Liberals in the Bear’s Den

The latest updates on local electoral information are as follows.

Result

• East Dunbartonshire: The byelection in Bearsden South ward held on 30 January was won by Ben Langmead. Liberal Democrat gain from an Independent elected as a Conservative.

Defections

• Argyll and Bute: Daniel Hampsey, who was elected for the Conservatives in Dunoon ward, has joined Reform UK.
• Birmingham: Ziaul Islam, who was elected for the Labour Party in Newtown ward, has left the party to join the Birmingham Independent Councillors group.
• Cambridgeshire: Des Watt, who was elected for Reform UK in Yaxley and Farcet division but left the party in October, has now joined Advance UK.
• Derby: Kieran Morgan-McGeehan, who was elected for the Conservatives in Allestree ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.
• Devon: Two councillors who were elected for Reform UK but left the party have now joined Advance UK. They are Ed Hill (Pinhoe and Mincinglake division) and Angela Nash (Wonford and St Loyes division).
• Durham: Paul Bean, who was elected for Reform UK in Crook division but left the party in November, has now joined Advance UK.
• East Sussex: Sam Adeniji, who was elected for the Conservatives in Seaford North division but left the party in May last year, has now joined Reform UK.
• Hackney: M Can Ozsen, who was elected for the Labour Party in London Fields ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.
• Huntingdonshire: Stephen Ferguson, who was elected as an Independent in St Neots Priory Park and Little Paxton ward and had been a member of the Cambs Independent Group, has joined the Green Party.
• Knowsley: Chantelle Lunt, who was elected for the Labour Party in St Gabriels ward, has joined the Green Party. She has not yet formally been admitted to the party group on the council.
• Liverpool: Joe Hanson, who was elected for the Labour Party in Kirkdale West ward, has left the party group after a criminal charge was brought.
• Luton: Adrees Latif, who was elected for the Liberal Democrats in Wigmore ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.
• South Kesteven: Richard Litchfield, who was elected for Reform UK in Belmont ward, has left the party to sit as an unaligned Independent councillor.
• Staffordshire Moorlands: Oliver Pointon, who was elected for the Conservatives in Cheddleton ward but left the party in November 2025, has now returned to it.
• Warwickshire: Edward Harris, who was elected for Reform UK in Baddesley division, has left the party to sit as an Independent county councillor.
• West Suffolk: Phil Wittam, the Chairman of the Council who was elected for the West Suffolk Independents in Brandon East ward, has left them but remains in the Independents group.

New vacancies

• Calderdale: Brighouse ward, after the death of Conservative councillor Geraldine Carter. As her term was due to end in May, she will not be replaced at a byelection.
• Cotswold: The Beeches ward, after the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Nigel Robbins. Term ends 2027.
• Liverpool: Aigburth ward, after the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Dave Antrobus. Term ends 2027.
• Norfolk: Freebridge Lynn division, after the impending resignation of Independent councillor Simon Ring to seek re-election as a protest against the proposed delay in local elections. The term is currently due to end in May but is proposed to be extended to 2027.
• Norfolk: Town Close division, after the impending resignation of Independent Progressive county councillor Emma Corlett (who was elected for the Labour Party) to seek re-election as a protest against the proposed delay in local elections. The term is currently due to end in May but is proposed to be extended to 2027.
• Norfolk: Wensum division, after the impending resignation of Independent Progressive county councillor Maxine Webb (who was elected for the Labour Party) to seek re-election as a protest against the proposed delay in local elections. The term is currently due to end in May but is proposed to be extended to 2027.
• Norfolk: Yare and All Saints division, after the resignation of Conservative county councillor Edward Connolly to seek re-election as a protest against the proposed delay in local elections. The term is currently due to end in May but is proposed to be extended to 2027.
• Sandwell: Wednesbury South ward, after the resignation of Labour councillor Ian Chambers. His term was due to end in May so no byelection will be held.
• Stroud: Thrupp ward, after the resignation of Green Party councillor Beki Aldam. Term ends 2028.
• Welwyn Hatfield: Welwyn East ward, after the death of Conservative councillor Roger Trigg. Term ends 2027.
• Westmorland and Furness: Penrith South ward, after the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Virginia Taylor. Term ends 2027.

Dates for byelections

• Durham: The byelection due in Murton division will be held on 5 March.
• Sevenoaks: The byelection due in Hextable ward will be held on 5 March.
• Stroud: The byelection due in Thrupp ward will be held on 5 March.
• Vale of White Horse: The byelection due in Abingdon Abbey Northcourt ward will be held on 12 March.

Other updates

• Pendle: The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government has announced that he will include Pendle in the list of councils where elections due in May 2026 will be postponed for a year.

---

---