Double hit in Edinburgh

The latest updates on local electoral information are as follows.

Results

• Edinburgh: The byelection in Portobello / Craigmillar ward held on 3 September was won by Lorenzo Martinico. Scottish Green Party gain from the Scottish National Party.
• Edinburgh: The byelection in Southside / Newington ward held on 3 September was won by Ruth Elliott. Labour gain from the Scottish National Party.
• Oxfordshire: The byelection in Chesterton and Launton division held on 3 September was won by James Hartley. Liberal Democrat hold. In doing so the Liberal Democrats have regained their overall majority on the county council.
• Rhondda Cynon Taf: The byelection in Llantwit Fardre ward held on 3 September was won by Joel James. Conservative hold.
• Somerset: The byelection in Frome West division held on 3 September was won by Dominic Ellison. Green Party hold.
• Stroud: The byelection in Kingswood ward held on 2 September was won by Fred Hulls. Liberal Democrat hold.

Defections

• Aberdeenshire: Robbie Withey, who was elected for the Conservatives in Huntly, Strathbogie and Howe of Alford ward but joined Reform UK in May 2025, has left the party but remains as an Independent in the Alliance Group which also includes the Reform UK councillors.
• Braintree: Four councillors elected as Independents have collectively joined the Conservative Party. They are Joanne Beavis and Wendy Taylor (both Hedingham ward), Dennis Abram (Coggeshall ward) and Ann Hooks (Rayne ward).
• Cambridge: Dave Baigent, who was elected for Labour in Romsey ward but left the party and joined Your Party in August last year, has now left Your Party to sit as an Independent councillor.
• Cherwell: Two councillors for Fringford and Heyfords ward have left the Liberal Democrat group to sit as Independents. They are Jean Conway and Grace Conway-Murray.
• Chorley: Mark Hill, who was elected for Reform UK in Chorley South East and Heath Charnock ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.
• North East Lincolnshire: Tanya Brasted, who was elected for Reform UK in West Marsh ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.
• North Tyneside: Tom Bailey, who was elected for the Labour Party in Tynemouth ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.
• North West Leicestershire: Russell Boam, who was elected for the Conservatives in Valley ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.
• Sevenoaks: Diana Esler, who was elected for the Conservatives in Westerham and Crockham Hill ward but left the party in May 2025, has rejoined them.
• Slough: Dhruv Tomar, who was elected for the Conservatives in Slough Central ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.
• Solihull: Eleonora Gough, who was elected for Reform UK in Elmdon ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.
• South Gloucestershire: Chris Davies, who was elected for the Liberal Democrats in Thornbury ward but left the party in July, has now returned.
• West Northamptonshire: Kathryn Shaw, who was elected for Reform UK but left the party in March, has now moved from the Independent group to the Liberal Democrats.
• Wiltshire: Ricky Rogers, who was elected for the Labour Party in Salisbury Fisherton and Bemerton Village division, has left the party to sit as an Independent Labour councillor. He was the only Labour councillor and was reportedly expelled for forming a group with an Independent councillor.

New vacancies

• Caerphilly: Risca East ward, after the death of Labour councillor Nigel George. Term ends 2027.
• East Hertfordshire: Hertford Kingsmead ward, after the resignation of Green Party councillor Vicky Glover-Ward. Term ends 2027.
• Halton: Beechwood and Heath ward, after the death of Liberal Democrat councillor Margaret Ratcliffe. Term ends 2028.
• Leeds: Calverley and Farsley ward, after the resignation of Labour councillor Peter Carlill due to health issues. Term ends 2027.
• Mid Devon: Bradninch ward, after the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Luke Taylor. Term ends 2027.
• Stroud: Rodborough ward, after the resignation of Labour councillor Kathy Hofmann. Term ends 2028.
• Wiltshire: Salisbury Milford division, after the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Alan Baylis. Term ends 2029.

Date for byelection

• Lambeth: The byelection due in Myatt’s Fields ward will be held on 8 October.

Other updates

• Denbighshire: The council leadership has resigned. Originally formed as a Labour / Plaid Cymru coalition, the decision of Plaid Cymru to withdraw from the administration on 21 August has made it impossible for Labour to continue as a minority. A full council meeting on Tuesday will decide the new administration.

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