Shirley is serious

The latest updates on local electoral information are as follows.

Result

• Southampton: The byelection in Shirley ward held on 26 February was won by Chris Shank. Liberal Democrat hold.

Defections

• Aberdeenshire: Alan Buchan, who was elected as an Independent in Peterhead North and Rattray ward, has joined Reform UK.
• Adur: A group of four councillors have left the Conservative group. They hoped to be accepted by Reform UK but were not accepted, and have accordingly formed an Independent group. The four are Carol Albury and Carson Albury (both Manor ward), Andy McGregor (Widewater ward) and Neil Parkin (Hillside ward).
• Bassetlaw: Simon Richardson, who was elected for the Conservatives in Rampton ward but left the party in December, has now joined Reform UK.
• Blackburn with Darwen: Elaine Whittingham, who was elected for the Labour Party in Ewood ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.
• Bradford: Mohsin Hussain, who was elected for the Labour Party in Keighley Central ward, has been suspended from the whip and is sitting as an Independent councillor.
• Bury: Glyn Marsden, who was elected for Radcliffe First in Radcliffe West ward, has joined Reform UK.
• Cornwall: Rob Parsonage, who was elected for Reform UK in Torpoint division but left the party in October last year, has now joined the Conservatives.
• East Devon: Marcus Hartnell, who was elected for the Conservatives in Seaton ward, has left the party to sit as a non-affiliated Independent councillor.
• East Riding of Yorkshire: Samantha Christon-Whyte, who was elected for the Conservatives in Mid Holderness ward, has joined Reform UK.
• Epsom and Ewell: Christine Howells, who was elected for the Residents’ Associations in Nonsuch ward, has left the group to sit as an ungrouped Independent councillor.
• Flintshire: Fran Lister, who was elected for the Labour Party in Brynford and Halkyn ward, has joined the Liberal Democrats.
• Huntingdonshire: Two members of the HDC Independent Group have joined the Liberal Democrats. They are Ann Blackwell and Tom Sanderson, both from The Stukeleys ward.
• Maldon: The two councillors in the Residents Alliance group have joined Reform UK. They are Adrian Fluker (Southminster ward) and Matthew Neall (Tillingham ward).
• North Yorkshire: John Mann, who was elected for the Conservatives in Oatlands and Pannal division but left the group to sit as an unaffiliated Independent in November, has now joined Reform UK.
• Plymouth: Steve Ricketts, who was elected as an Independent in Drake ward and a member of The Independents group, has joined Reform UK.
• Portsmouth: The two remaining members of the Portsmouth Independent Party have joined Reform UK. They are Emily Strudwick (Hilsea ward) and Lee Tindal (Copnor ward).
• Ribble Valley: Ian Brown, who was elected as an Independent in Salthill ward, has joined Reform UK.
• Rushmoor: Jules Crossley, who was elected for the Labour Party in Aldershot Park ward but formed the Rushmoor Independent Group in September 2025, has now joined the Green Party.
• Sheffield: Willis Marshall, who was elected for the Liberal Democrats in Woodhouse ward but suspended from the party in May last year, has been readmitted.
• Solihull: Prish Sharma, who was elected for the Conservatives in Shirley West ward, has joined Reform UK.
• Southampton: Sarah Powell-Vaughan, who was elected for the Conservatives in Sholing ward, has joined Reform UK.
• Staffordshire: Chris Large, who was elected for Reform UK in Brewood division, has left the party to sit as an Independent county councillor.
• Stoke-on-Trent: Carl Edwards, who was elected for the Conservative Party in Baddeley, Milton and Norton ward, has joined Reform UK.
• Swale: Kieran Mishchuk, who was elected for Reform UK in Milton Regis ward, has joined Restore Britain.
• Swansea: Joe Hale, who was elected for the Labour Party in St Thomas ward, has left the party group to sit as an Independent councillor. Meanwhile two Independent councillors have joined the Liberal Democrats; they are Alan Jeffery and Sandra Joy (both Uplands ward).
• Thanet: Two councillors have joined Reform UK. Marc Rattigan (Cliftonville East ward) was elected as a Conservative, while John Dennis (Garlinge ward) was elected as an Independent.
• Uttlesford: Two councillors from the ‘Residents 4 Uttlesford’ group have joined Reform UK. They are Geoff Bagnall and Mark Coletta, who both represent Takeley ward. As a result the Residents 4 Uttlesford group is now a minority administration.
• Warrington: Graham Gowland, who was elected for the Liberal Democrats in Lymm South ward, has left the party whip and will sit as an Independent councillor.
• West Oxfordshire: Natalie King, who was elected for the Liberal Democrats in Carterton North West ward but was suspended from the party in July last year, has now joined Reform UK.
• West Sussex: Carson Albury (Sompting and North Lancing division) and Andy McGregor (Lancing division) have both left the Conservative Party to sit as Independent county councillors.
• Woking: Stephen Oades, who was elected for the Liberal Democrats in Goldsworth Park ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.

New vacancies

• Bury: Tottington ward, after the resignation of ‘Together for Bury councillor Luis McBriar, who was elected for the Conservatives. Term ends 2028.
• Great Yarmouth: Caister South ward, after the death of Conservative councillor Malcolm Bird. Term ends 2027.
• Hillingdon: Uxbridge ward, after the resignation of Conservative councillor Keith Burrows. His term was due to end in May so no byelection will be held.

Date for byelection

• Bury: The byelection due in Tottington ward will be held on 2 April.

Other updates

• Waverley: The Farnham Residents group have withdrawn their support from the Liberal Democrat-led administration.

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