Going the extra Furlong

The latest updates on local electoral information are as follows.

Results

• Isle of Anglesey: The byelection in Ynys Gybi ward held on 5 February was won by Celfyn Furlong. Reform UK gain from Plaid Cymru.
• Corporation of London: The election of an Alderman for Coleman Street held on 5 February was won by Sushil Saluja.
• North Somerset: The byelection in Clevedon South ward held on 5 February was won by Michael Harriott. Labour hold.

Defections

• Barnet: Linda Lusingu, who was elected for the Labour Party in Friern Barnet ward but left the party to sit as an Independent in January 2023, has now joined the Green Party.
• Derbyshire: Angelique Foster, who was elected for the Conservatives in Dronfield Woodhouse and Walton division, has left the party to sit as an Independent county councillor.
• Durham: Michael Ramage, who was elected for Reform UK in Shildon and Dene Valley division, has left the party to sit as an ungrouped Independent councillor.
• Isle of Wight: A new ‘Very Broad Church’ group has been formed by Geoff Brodie (Independent Socialist, Pan and Barton division) and Clare Mosdell (Independent elected as a Conservative, Newchurch, Havenstreet and Ashey division).
• Lincoln: Neil Murray, who was elected for the Labour Party in Carholme ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.
• North East Derbyshire: Mark Foster, who was elected for the Conservatives in Coal Aston ward, has left the party to sit as an ungrouped Independent councillor.
• North Northamptonshire: Bill McElhinney, who was elected for the Conservatives in Desborough ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.
• Reigate and Banstead: Jenny Orchard, who was elected for the Labour Party in Redhill West and Wray Common ward but left the party in July last year, has now joined the Green Party.
• Runnymede: Manu Singh, who was elected for the Green Party in Addlestone North ward, has joined the Liberal Democrats.
• Rushcliffe: A new ‘Independent People First’ group has been formed by Independent councillors Andy Edyvean (Bunny ward, previously a Conservative) and Alan Phillips (Compton Acres ward) together with Bingham Independent Rowan Bird (Bingham South ward).
• South Kesteven: Richard Litchfield, who was elected for Reform UK in Belmont ward but left the party group last month, has now returned.
• Staffordshire Moorlands: Michael Worthington, who was elected for the Conservatives in Cheddleton ward but left the party in November last year, has now returned.
• Wakefield: Olivia Rowley, who was elected for the Labour Party in Ossett ward, has left the party to sit as an ungrouped Independent councillor.
• Windsor and Maidenhead: The West Windsor Residents Association has dissolved; its two councillors remain as Independent members in the Independent Alliance group. They are Carole Da Costa and Wisdom Da Costa, both of whom represent Clewer and Dedworth West ward.

New vacancies

• Birmingham: Lozells ward, after the death of Labour councillor Wassem Zaffar. As his term was due to end in May, no byelection follows.
• Hyndburn: St Oswalds ward, after the death of former council leader and Conservative councillor Marlene Howarth. Term ends 2028.
• Corporation of London: Coleman Street ward, following the elevation of non-party Common Councilman Sushil Saluja to the Aldermanic bench. Term ends 2029.
• Rossendale: Hareholme and Waterfoot ward, after the resignation of Labour councillor Tom Belli. Term ends 2028.
• Vale of White Horse: Stanford ward, after the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Sue Caul. Term ends 2027.

Dates for byelections

• Cotswold: The byelection due in The Beeches ward will be held on 12 March.
• Liverpool: The byelection due in Aigburth ward will be held on 12 March.
• North Kesteven: The byelection due in Sleaford Westholme ward will be held on 12 March.
• Pembrokeshire: The byelection due in Milford Hakin division will be held on Tuesday 17 March.
• Westmorland and Furness: The byelection due in Penrith South ward will be held on 12 March.

Other updates

• The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has opened consultation on local government reorganisation in 14 areas with current two tier arrangements, which will run until 25 March. The consultation invites views on which of the arrangements of unitary authorities proposed by existing councils should be adopted. The areas are:
  • Cambridgeshire and Peterborough
  • Derby and Derbyshire
  • Devon, Plymouth and Torbay
  • Gloucestershire; Hertfordshire
  • Kent and Medway
  • Lancashire, Blackburn with Darwen and Blackpool
  • Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland
  • Lincolnshire, North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire
  • Nottingham and Nottinghamshire
  • Oxfordshire
  • Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent
  • Warwickshire
  • Worcestershire

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