Six councils still uncertain

The latest updates on local electoral information are as follows.

Result

• Swansea: The byelection in Fairwood ward held on 28 May was won by Beth Rowe. Liberal Democrat gain from Conservative.

Defections

• Ashford: Diccon Spain, who was elected for the Labour Party in Bockhanger ward, has joined the Green Party.
• Brentwood: Adrian Baldock, who was elected for the Conservatives in Herongate, Ingrave and West Horndon ward, has left the party and formed the Brentwood Alliance group together with his ward colleague Sheila Murphy (who left the Conservatives last year).
• Bristol: Zoë Peat, who was elected for the Labour Party in Avonmouth and Lawrence Weston ward, has joined the Liberal Democrats.
• Colchester: Three councillors elected for the Labour Party have left the party and founded the Progressive Independent Alliance, together with Lesley Scott-Boutell (Stanway ward) who left the Liberal Democrats in 2024. The three ex-Labour members of the group are Sam McLean (New Town and Christ Church ward) and Berechurch ward councillors Chris Pearson and Martyn Warnes.
• Dartford: Laura Edie, who was elected for the Green Party in Newtown ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.
• Maidstone: Richard Conyard, who was elected for the Liberal Democrats in Penenden Heath ward, has joined the Green Party. Meanwhile Vanessa Jones (Boxley Downs ward), who was elected as an Independent but had been part of the Green Party group, has now formally joined the party.

New vacancies

• Cheshire West and Chester: Weaver and Cuddington ward, after the resignation of Conservative councillor Phil Rimmer. Term ends 2027.
• Gloucestershire: Cirencester Park division, after the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Joseph Harris. Term ends 2029.
• Halton: Farnworth ward, after the resignation of Labour councillor Aimee Skinner. Term ends 2027.
• Nuneaton and Bedworth: Camp Hill ward, after the resignation of Labour councillor Sharon Dhillon due to ill health. Term ends 2028.
• Peterborough: Fletton and Woodston ward, after the resignation of Independent councillor Daisy Blakemore-Creedon, who was elected for Labour but left the party in May 2025. Term ends 2028.

Dates for byelections

• Bolton: The byelection due in Horwich North ward will be held on 2 July.
• Cheshire West and Chester: The byelection due in Weaver and Cuddington ward will be held on 2 July.
• Dorset: The byelection due in St Leonards and St Ives ward will be held on 2 July.
• Gateshead: The byelection due in High Fell ward will be held on 9 July.
• Gloucestershire: The byelection due in Cirencester Park division will be held on 2 July.
• Halton: The byelection due in Farnworth ward will be held on 25 June.
• Harborough: The byelection due in Lutterworth East ward will be held on 2 July.
• Nuneaton and Bedworth: The byelection due in Camp Hill ward will be held on 25 June.
• Pembrokeshire: The byelection due in Pembroke Dock Market ward will be held on 9 July.
• Powys: The byelection due in Glantwymyn ward will be held on 2 July.
• Powys: The byelection due in Llanyre with Nantmel ward will be held on 2 July.
• Powys: The byelection due in Yscir with Honddu Isaf and Llanddew ward will be held on 2 July.
• Telford and Wrekin: The byelection due in Malinslee and Dawley Bank ward will be held on 2 July.

Other updates

• Brentwood: Following the creation of the Brentwood Alliance group, it has entered into a coalition with the Liberal Democrats and Labour to run the council.
• Dudley: A minority Conservative administration has been formed to run the council.
• Enfield: With the Green Party group abstaining, a minority Conservative administration has taken control of the council.
• Epping Forest: The Conservatives will continue to form the administration, as a minority.
• Hyndburn: At the annual meeting, a Labour minority administration was elected.
• Isle of Wight: The new administration of the council will be led by an Independent with Reform UK and Island First Network councillors chairing committees.
• Newcastle upon Tyne: Following a deal with the Green Party, there will be a Liberal Democrat minority administration.
• Norfolk: Having made an unofficial agreement with the Great Yarmouth First Party, the council will be run by a minority Reform UK administration.
• Redditch: A deal with Reform UK has resulted in a Conservative / Independent coalition taking over control of the council.
• Rushmoor: Labour will continue to run the council as a minority administration.
• Solihull: The Conservatives are to continue to form the council leadership, as a minority group.
• Southwark: A coalition of the Green Party and Liberal Democrats has been formed to run the council.
• Tameside: A minority Labour administration was elected at the annual meeting.
• Wandsworth: The Conservatives have taken control of the council, after the sole Independent councillor confirmed he would support them.
• There are six councils which have not yet settled their administrations following the local elections. They are Birmingham, Cambridge (deferred to 1 June), Colchester, Kirklees (after a second failed attempt to elect a leadership this week), Lambeth (postponed to allow the council to adopt the committee system at an extraordinary meeting on 1 June), and Oldham.

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