Reform outfoxed by Labour

The latest updates on local electoral information are as follows.

Results

• Aberdeen: The byelection in Midstocket / Rosemount ward held on 8 October was won by Jeff Diack. Scottish National Party hold.
• Amber Valley: The byelection in Kilburn, Denby, Holbrook and Horsley ward held on 8 October was won by Bess Saunders. Green Party gain from Conservative.
• Lambeth: The byelection in Myatt’s Fields ward held on 8 October was won by Molly Hartill. Labour hold.
• Newcastle-under-Lyme: The byelection in Town ward held on 8 October was won by Andrew Fox-Hewitt. Labour gain from Reform UK.

Defections

• Babergh: Daniel Potter, who was elected for the Green Party in Orwell ward, has joined the Conservative Party.
• Cambridge: Elliot Tong, who was elected for the Green Party in Abbey ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.
• Cambridgeshire: Elliot Tong, who was elected for the Green Party in Abbey division, has left the party to sit as an Independent county councillor.
• East Sussex: Daniel Bradley, who was elected for Reform UK in Rye and Eastern Rother division, has left the party to sit as an Independent county councillor.
• Highland: Andrew Jarvie, who was elected as an Independent councillor for Wick and East Caithness ward and was in the Highland Alliance group, has left to form a Reform UK group on the council. He had already joined the party some time before.
• Hounslow: Gurbachan Athwal, who was elected for the Labour Party in Heston East ward, has been suspended from the whip after a criminal charge. As a result Labour no longer has an overall majority on the council.
• Newcastle upon Tyne: Mohammed Suleman, who was elected for the Green Party in Arthur’s Hill ward while under suspension, has now been admitted to the council group.
• Newham: Danny Keeling, who was elected for the Green Party in Stratford ward, has left the group but remains as a member of the Green Party in the country.
• North Tyneside: Brian Smith, who was elected for Reform UK in Killingworth ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor. Meanwhile Tom Bailey, who was elected for the Labour Party in Tynemouth ward but left it last month, has now joined the Green Party.
• North Yorkshire: Kevin Foster, who was elected for the Green Party in Hipswell and Colburn division, has left the party but remains as an Independent member of the Green and Independent group (and as the group leader).
• Rother: Daniel Bradley, who was elected for Reform UK in Rye and Winchelsea ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.
• Rushmoor: Halleh Koohestani, who was elected for the Labour Party in Rowhill ward but left the party in September 2025, has now returned to it.
• Sefton: Kieran Dams, who was elected for the Green Party in Waterloo ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.
• Walsall: Three councillors who were elected as Reform UK but left the party between May and September this year, have now formed a Walsall People’s Alliance group. They are Robin Perry (Harden, Goscote and Ryecroft ward), Daniel Rollinson (New Invention ward), and Bella Simon (Short Heath ward).

New vacancies

• Conwy: Bryn ward, after the resignation of Conservative councillor Jacob Williams. Term ends May next year.
• Pembrokeshire: Pembroke Dock Central division, after the impending resignation of Labour councillor Joshua Beynon. Term ends May next year.

Dates for byelections

• Hyndburn: The byelection due in Huncoat ward will be held on 12 November.
• Oldham: The byelection due in Failsworth West ward will be held on 12 November.
• Staffordshire Moorlands: The byelection due in Cheddleton ward will be held on 12 November.
• Wigan: The byelection due in Hindley Green ward will be held on 12 November.

Other updates

• Huntingdonshire: It is reported that Ryan Coogan, who is the Reform UK group leader and councillor for Ramsey ward, was arrested over allegations of false statements on election nomination papers.

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