Leicestershire Labour gain

The latest updates on local electoral information are as follows.

Results

• Flintshire: The byelection in Higher Kinnerton ward held on 15 October was won by Josh Swash. Flintshire People’s Voice gain a seat previously held by a member of the Independent group.
• Leicestershire: The byelection in Shepshed division held on 15 October was won by Jane Lennie. Labour gain from Reform UK.
• Mid Devon: The byelection in Bradninch ward held on 15 October was won by Dr Mary Ryan. Liberal Democrat hold.
• Stroud: The byelection in Rodborough ward held on 13 October was won by John Bloxsom. Labour hold.
• Wiltshire: The byelection in Salisbury Milford division held on 15 October was won by Mac Brown. Liberal Democrat hold.

Defections

• Bolton: Yusuf Davda, who was elected as an Independent councillor in Rumworth ward, has joined the Green Party. Meanwhile Samantha Williamson, who was elected for Horwich and Blackrod First in Horwich South and Blackrod ward, has joined the Liberal Democrats.
• Bradford: Jon Barras, who was elected for Reform UK in Bolton and Undercliffe ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.
• Braintree: Paul Thorogood, who was elected for the Green Party in Kelvedon and Feering ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.
• Bromley: Dean Miller, who was elected for Reform UK in St Paul’s Cray ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.
• Cheshire West and Chester: Arthur Neil, who was elected for the Labour Party in Northwich Winnington and Caslte ward, has left the party to sit as an unaligned Independent councillor.
• Doncaster: William Shaw, who was elected for Reform UK in Conisbrough ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.
• Dudley: Peter Drake, who was elected for the Labour Party in Coseley ward but left the party and was a member of the Black Country Party until July, has now joined Reform UK.
• Essex: Paul Thorogood, who was elected for the Green Party in Braintree Eastern division, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.
• Great Yarmouth: Jonathan Wedon, who was elected for Great Yarmouth First in Caister South ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.
• Hounslow: Satwant Kaur, who was elected for the Conservatives in Heston West ward, briefly resigned from the party over declaration of interests, but was restored by the end of the week.
• Leeds: Two councillors elected for Reform UK have left the party to form the Leeds First Independents group. They are Paula-Jane Thackray (Cross Gates and Whinmoor ward), and David Dresser (Killingbeck and Seacroft ward).
• Milton Keynes: Alison Andrew, who was elected for the Conservatives in Hanslope ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.
• New Forest: Joe Reilly, who was elected as an Independent councillor for Ashurst, Bramshaw, Copythorne and Netley Marsh ward, has joined the Conservative Party. This move means the Conservatives now have an overall majority.
• Norfolk: Jonathan Wedon, who was elected for Great Yarmouth First in Lothingland division, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.
• Powys: Lucy Roberts, who was elected for the Conservatives in Llandrinio ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.
• Preston: Freddie Bailey, who was elected for the Labour Party in Garrison ward but suspended from the party in May, has returned to full membership.
• Swansea: Angela O’Connor, who was elected for the Conservatives in Mumbles ward, has left the party to join the Independent group.
• Tameside: Raymond Dunning, who was elected for Reform UK in Ashton Waterloo ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor. It is also noted that Allison Gwynne, elected for Labour in Denton North East ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent.
• Teignbridge: John Radford, who was elected for South Devon Alliance in Kerswell-with-Combe ward but sat as an Independent after the party broke up, has now joined Reform UK.
• West Surrey shadow council: Jim McIlroy, who was elected for Reform UK in Stanwell, Stanwell Moor and Ashford North ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.

New vacancies

• Birmingham: Shard End ward, after the resignation of Independent councillor Alan Feeney who left Reform UK this week. Term ends 2030.
• Bromsgrove: Marlbrook ward, after the resignation of Conservative councillor Helen Jones. Term ends May next year.
• Gosport: Hardway ward, after the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Kirsty Cox. Term ends 2028.
• Great Yarmouth: Magdalen ward, after the death of Labour councillor Trevor Wainwright. Term ends May next year.
• Havant: Emsworth ward, after the resignation of Green Party councillor Chas Robert. Term ends 2028.
• Hertfordshire: Letchworth North division, after the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Tina Bhartwas, who was elected for Labour. Term ends 2029.
• Manchester: Harpurhey ward, after the death of veteran Labour councillor Pat Karney. Term ends May next year.
• North Hertfordshire: Letchworth Norton ward, after the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Tina Bhartwas, who was elected for Labour. Term ends 2028.
• Reading: Caversham Heights ward, after the resignation of Labour councillor Jenny McGrother. Term ends 2028.
• Solihull: Castle Bromwich ward, after the resignations of all three of the ward’s councillors Christopher Whelan, Jamie Campbell and Alan Feeney. All three were elected for Reform UK but had left the party this week. Terms end in 2027, 2028 and 2030.

Dates for byelections

• Caerphilly: The byelection due in Risca East ward will be held on 19 November.
• Conwy: The byelection due in Bryn ward will be held on 19 November.
• Durham: The byelection due in Craghead and South Moor division will be held on 19 November.
• East Ayrshire: The byelection due in Cumnock and New Cumnock ward will be held on 10 December.
• Havant: The byelection due in Emsworth ward will be held on 19 November.
• Hertfordshire: The byelection due in Letchworth North division will be held on 19 November.
• North Hertfordshire: The byelection due in Letchworth Norton ward will be held on 19 November.
• Rotherham: The byelection due in Anston and Woodsetts ward will be held on 19 November.
• South Staffordshire: The byelection due in Huntington and Hatherton ward will be held on 19 November.

Other updates

• The Labour Party is reported to have given its local council groups an instruction to end any coalition work with the Green Party should their local councillors not repudiate the motion passed at Green Party conference declaring that ‘Zionism is racism’ within the next week.

---

---