The latest updates on local electoral information are as follows.
Results
- Basingstoke and Deane: The byelection in Kempshott ward on 1 March was won by Tony Capon. Conservative hold.
- Clackmannanshire: The byelection in Clackmannanshire North ward on 1 March was won by Helen Lewis. Scottish National Party hold.
- East Devon: The byelection in Exmouth Town ward on 1 March was won by Tim Dumper. Liberal Democrat hold.
- Solihull: The byelection in Blythe ward on 1 March was won by James Butler. Conservative hold.
Changes of allegiance
- Cornwall: Tim Dwelly, who was elected for the Labour Party in Penzance East division and was the group leader, has left the party to sit as a standalone Independent councillor. He cited bullying and intimidation from party members as the reason. He has been joined by Paula Dolphin, who was elected for the Liberal Democrats in Grenville and Stratton division; she is opposed to the decision to increase council tax.
- New Forest: Richard Frampton, who was elected for the Conservative Party in Bransgore and Burley ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.
- Rochford: The four members of the UK Independence Party group on the council, Nick Cooper (Roche North and Rural ward), Neil Hookway, Tina Hughes and Daniel Efde (all representing Foulness and The Wakerings ward), have all left the party and established the ‘Friends of Rochford’ group.
- South Derbyshire: Ray Tipping, who was elected in Woodville ward for the Conservative Party, has joined the UK Independence Party.
New vacancy
- Knowsley: Page Moss ward, after the death of Labour councillor Veronica McNeill. Term ends 2019.
Dates for byelections
- Knowsley: The byelection due in Page Moss ward will be held on 29 March.
- St Edmundsbury: The byelection due in St Olave’s ward will be held on 12 April.
Other updates
- The Minister of Housing, Communities and Local Government Sajid Javid has announced that he has decided to implement the reorganisation of local government in Dorset on 1 April 2019. The change will mean two unitary councils in the county: one ‘Conurbation’ comprising Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch, and one ‘Dorset area’ comprising the districts of East Dorset, North Dorset, Purbeck, West Dorset, and Weymouth and Portland. As a result of the impending reform, the Minister has also cancelled this May’s elections in Weymouth and Portland where one third of the councillors were due to be elected, and extended the terms of the sitting councillors to 2019. This means the vacant seat in Weymouth West ward is no longer covered by the ‘six month rule’ and is likely to have a byelection.
- Thanet: The full council meeting on Thursday elected Bob Bayford (Conservative) as council leader; it seems likely that he will form a Conservative minority administration.
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