“What’s that, boss?” says Rochester

The latest updates on local electoral information are as follows.

Results

• Hyndburn: The byelection in Baxenden ward held on 6 February was won by David Heap. Conservative gain from Labour.
• Medway: The byelection in Gillingham South ward held on 6 February was won by Liubov Nestorova. Labour hold.
• Medway: The byelection for two seats in Rochester East and Warren Wood ward held on 6 February was won by John Vye and David Finch. Reform UK gain both seats from Labour; as as result of the losses, Labour no longer has a majority on the council.
• Tendring: The byelection in The Bentleys and Frating ward held on 6 February was won by Aimee Keteca. Reform UK gain from Conservative.
• Wokingham: The byelection in Winnersh ward held on 6 February was won by Chetna Jamthe. Liberal Democrat hold.

Defections

• Ashfield: Cathy Mason, who was elected for the Labour Party in Carsic ward, has joined Reform UK.
• Broxbourne: Two councillors elected for the Conservatives have joined Reform UK. They are Giles Hall (Flamstead End ward) and Siobhan Monaghan (Cheshunt South and Theobalds ward).
• Buckinghamshire: Paul Irwin, who was elected for the Conservatives in Stone and Waddesdon ward, has left the party to sit as an ungrouped Independent councillor.
• Durham: Two councillors have joined Reform UK, both of whom were elected for the Conservatives. They are Joe Quinn (Ferryhill division) and Cathy Hunt (Woodhouse Close division), who had left the Conservatives last month.
• East Ayrshire: John McGhee, who was elected for the Labour Party in Annick ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.
• Mid Suffolk: Four councillors from the Conservative group have formed the Mid Suffolk Independents Group over their disagreement with the Suffolk County Council Conservative group stance on devolution. They are James Caston (Bramford ward), Lavinia Hadingham (Fressingfield ward), Anders Linder (Stradbroke and Laxfield ward), and John Whitehead (Claydon and Barham ward).
• Swale: Four councillors from the Swale Independents Alliance have joined Reform UK. They are Chris Palmer and Richard Palmer (both Hartlip, Newington and Upchurch ward), together with Lloyd Chapman (Bobbing, Iwade and Lower Halstow ward) and Peter MacDonald (Minster Cliffs ward).
• Tamworth: Two councillors elected for the Conservatives have left the group to sit as Independent councillors. They are Martin Summers (Trinity ward) and Paul Turner (Stonydelph ward).
• Tendring: Two councillors who had been in the Tendring Independents group have joined Reform UK. They are Michael Bush (The Oakleys and Wix ward) and Bradley Thompson (West Clacton and Jaywick Sands ward).

New vacancies

• Maldon: Maldon North ward, after the resignation of Conservative councillor Nigel Miller. Term ends 2027.
• Suffolk: St John’s division, after the resignation of Labour county councillor Sarah Adams. In ordinary circumstances her term would have ended in May although the government intends to delay the elections for a year for local government reorganisation.
• Teignbridge: Teignmouth West ward, after the resignation of Independent councillor Nina Jeffries, who was elected for the Liberal Democrats. Term ends 2027.

Dates for byelections

• East Devon: The byelection due in Exe Valley ward will be held on 13 March.
• Glasgow: The byelection due in North East ward will be held on 20 March.
• Glasgow: The byelection due in Southsiede Central ward will be held on 20 March.
• Harborough: The byelection due in Glen ward will be held on Wednesday 19 March.
• Three Rivers: The byelection due in Abbots Langley and Bedmond ward will be held on Wednesday 19 March.

Other updates

• The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government announced on Wednesday that nine councils will have elections postponed from 2025 to 2026 to allow for reorganisation. The nine are East Sussex, Essex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Norfolk, Suffolk, Surrey, Thurrock, and West Sussex. It should also be noted that when the orders to postpone the elections are formally made, three vacant seats in the affected councils would no longer be subject to the ‘six month rule’ preventing byelections – Isle of Wight, Central Rural division; Suffolk, St John’s division; Thurrock, Ockendon ward.
• Newham: Last week’s report of a vacancy in Marylands ward caused by the resignation of Melanie Onovo was erroneous and the result of a mistake on the council’s website.

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