Double Belton family gain for Essex Tories

Posted by David Boothroyd
View David's blog
4 weeks ago / June 19, 2026

The latest updates on local electoral information are as follows.

Results

  • Bradford: The election in Idle and Thackley ward, which was postponed from 7 May to 18 June, was won by sitting councillors Alun Griffiths and Aislin Naylor, together with Rachel Sunderland. Liberal Democrats hold all three seats.
  • Bury: The election in Moorside ward, which was postponed from 7 May to 18 June, was won by Sandra Walmsley. Labour hold.
  • Conwy: The byelection in Gogarth Mostyn ward held on 18 June was won by Gareth Probert. Reform UK retain a seat which they held through defection of the previous councillor from the Conservatives.
  • Conwy: The byelection in Tudno ward held on 18 June was won by Alan Davies. Reform UK retain a seat which they held through defection of the previous councillor from the Conservatives.
  • Essex: The election in Chelmsford Springfield division, which was postponed from 7 May to 18 June, was won by Richard Lee. Liberal Democrat hold.
  • Essex: The byelection in Rayleigh West division held on 18 June was won by Stuart Belton. Conservative gain from Reform UK.
  • Hillingdon: The election in Hillingdon West ward, which was postponed from 7 May to 18 June, was won by Adam Bennett and Reeta Chamdal. Conservatives hold two seats.
  • Lewisham: The byelection in Crofton Park ward held on 18 June was won by Esther Lie. Green Party hold (by 10 votes).
  • New Forest: The byelection in Bransgore, Burley, Sopwell and Ringwood East ward held on 18 June was won by Jan Sutherland. Conservative hold.
  • Rochford: The byelection in Sweyne Park and Grange ward held on 18 June was won by Danielle Belton. Conservative gain from Reform UK.
  • Swansea: The byelection in Morriston ward held on 18 June was won by Rebecca Francis-Davies. Labour hold.
  • Swansea: The byelection in Mumbles ward held on 18 June was won by Hannah Williams. The Conservatives regain a seat lost when the previous councillor joined Reform UK.
  • Wrexham: The byelection in Acton and Maesydre ward held on 18 June was won by Richard Everall. Plaid Cymru hold.
  • Wrexham: The byelection in Grosvenor ward held on 18 June was won by Jon Billington. Plaid Cymru hold.
  • Wrexham: The byelection in Queensway ward held on 18 June was won by Pol Wong. Plaid Cymru hold.

Defections

  • Bridgend: Graham Walter, who was elected for the Labour Party in Porthcawl East Central ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.
  • Doncaster: Christopher Marriott, who was elected for Reform UK in Armthorpe ward but left the party and was a member of Advance UK from January until this month, has now formed the Independent Voices for Doncaster group – together with Nicola Brown (Adwick and Carcroft) who had been elected for Reform UK but joined Advance UK in December.
  • East Cambridgeshire: Lee Denney, who was elected for the Liberal Democrats in Stretham ward but left the party in April, has now joined the Conservatives. As a result the Conservatives now have an overall majority on the council.
  • Epping Forest: A breakaway ‘Residents 4 Loughton’ group has been formed by two councillors elected for the Loughton Residents Association. They are Roger Baldwin (Loughton Forest ward) and Louise Mead (Loughton Fairmead ward). A third councillor, Michael Owen (Loughton Forest ward), had also left – but has now rejoined. It is also noted that three of the council’s Independent councillors have formed the Epping Forest Independents Group.
  • Flintshire: Debbie Owen (Connah’s Quay Central ward) has moved from the Independent Group to the True Independents group.
  • Harborough: Joshua Worrell, who was elected for the Conservatives in Broughton Astley South and Leire ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.
  • High Peak: Chris Payne, who was elected for the Labour Party in Burbage ward, has left the party to sit as a non-aligned Independent councillor.
  • Maldon: Kevin Jennings, who was elected for the Liberal Democrats in Maldon North ward, has joined the Maldon District Independent group.
  • Medway: Robbie Lammas, who was elected for the Conservatives in Princes Park ward but joined Reform UK in October 2025, has now declared this move a mistake and sought to return to the Conservatives. His return has not yet been accepted.
  • Mid Devon: John Poynton, who was elected for the Liberal Democrats in Lower Culm ward, has left the party to sit as an ungrouped councillor.
  • Sevenoaks: Three councillors from the West Kent Independent Group, formed as a breakaway from the Conservatives in May 2025, have returned to the Conservative Party. They are Kim Bayley (Dunton Green and Riverhead ward), John Grint (Halstead, Knockholt and Badgers Mount ward), and Simon Reay (Kemsing ward).
  • Test Valley: Amanda Ford, who was elected for the Liberal Democrats in North Baddesley ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.
  • West Lindsey: Two councillors elected for the Liberal Democrats have left the party to form the Community Independents group. They are Linda Mullally (Stow ward) and Emma Bailey (Lea ward).
  • Wirral: Tony Jones, who was elected for the Labour Party in New Brighton ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor. Meanwhile Richie Pitt, who was elected for the Labour Party in Pensby and Thingwall ward but left the party in July 2025 and joined Your Party, has reverted to being an Independent councillor.

New vacancies

  • Bolton: Rumworth ward, after the resignation of Labour councillor Abdul Atcha. Term ends 2027.
  • King’s Lynn and West Norfolk: Heacham ward, after the resignation of Conservative councillor Andrew Jamieson. Term ends 2027.
  • King’s Lynn and West Norfolk: Snettisham ward, after the resignation of Conservative councillor Stuart Dark. Term ends 2027.
  • Reigate and Banstead: Hooley, Merstham and Netherne ward, after the death of Conservative councillor Mus Tary. Term ends 2027.
  • South Gloucestershire: Longwell Green ward, after the resignation of Conservative councillor Kris Murphy. Term ends 2027.
  • South Holland: Long Sutton ward, after the death of Independent councillor David Wilkinson. Term ends 2027.
  • South Tyneside: Harton ward, after the resignation of Reform UK councillor Alex Clarke. Term ends 2030.
  • West Suffolk: Haverhill West ward, after the resignation of Conservative councillor Margaret Marks. Term ends 2027.
  • Woking: Hoe Valley ward, after the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Tom Bonsundy-O’Bryan. Term ends 2027.

Dates for byelections

  • East Devon: The byelection due in Exmouth Brixington ward will be held on 23 July.
  • Medway: The byelection due in Cuxton, Halling and Riverside ward will be held on 23 July.
  • South Gloucestershire: The byelection due in Longwell Green ward will be held on 23 July.
  • Uttlesford: The byelection due in Great Dunmow North ward will be held on 30 July.

A service provided by


Political and community consultation experts