Scunthorpe steels itself for Reform

The latest updates on local electoral information are as follows.

Results

• North Lincolnshire: The byelection in Axholme Central ward held on 26 March was won by Caroline Finch. Conservative hold.
• North Lincolnshire: The byelection in Brumby ward held on 26 March was won by Ellen Dew. Reform UK gain from Labour.
• Sevenoaks: The byelection in Halstead, Knockholt and Badgers Mount ward held on 26 March was won by Tony Marshall. Conservative hold.
• Vale of White Horse: The byelection in Stanford ward held on 26 March was won by Lee Evans. Conservative gain from Liberal Democrat.

Defections

• Babergh: Michael Holt, who was elected for the Conservatives in Chadacre ward, has joined Reform UK.
• Bath and North East Somerset: Bharat Pankhania, who was elected for the Liberal Democrats in Combe Down ward, has been suspended from the whip and is sitting as an Independent councillor.
• Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole: Gillian Martin, who was elected for the Labour Party in Boscombe West ward but left the party in summer last year, has now joined Reform UK.
• Cambridge: Ingrid Flaubert, who was elected for the Liberal Democrats in Trumpington ward, has joined the Green Party.
• Ealing: Kate Crawford, who was elected for the Labour Party in East Acton ward but left the party last week, has now joined the Liberal Democrats.
• Hartlepool: Aaron Roy, who was elected for the Labour Party in Hart ward, has joined Reform UK.
• Hyndburn: Josh Allen, who was elected for the Conservatives in Immanuel ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor. Meanwhile Andrew Clegg who was elected for the Labour Party in Milnshaw ward, has joined the Green Party.
• King’s Lynn and West Norfolk: Michael de Whalley, who was elected for the Green Party in Gayton and Grimston ward, has left the party in opposition to its national leadership. He remains a member of the Independent Partnership on the council.
• Lewisham: Two councillors from the Labour group have joined the Green Party. They are Tauseef Anwar (Crofton Park ward) and Rudi Schmidt (Evelyn ward).
• Merthyr Tydfil: Andrew Barry, who was elected as an Independent councillor in Town ward but joined Reform UK in June last year, has now left the party and is sitting as an Independent again.
• North Ayrshire: Todd Ferguson, who was elected as a Conservative in North Coast ward but left the party and joined Reform UK in November last year, has now left Reform UK and is an Independent councillor.
• Plymouth: Zoe Reilly, who was elected for the Labour Party in Honicknowle ward but left the party in May last year, has joined the Green Party but will remain an Independent member on the council.
• Ribble Valley: Derek Brocklehurst, who was elected for the Conservatives in Alston and Hothersall ward, has joined Reform UK.
• Sunderland: Fiona Miller, who was elected for the Labour Party in Washington East ward, has joined the Green Party.
• Wealden: Two councillors from the Conservative group have joined Reform UK. They are Neil Cleaver (Hailsham Central ward) and David Greaves (South Downs ward).
• Wokingham: Majid Nagra, who was elected for the Labour Party in Loddon ward but left the party in September last year, has now joined the Green Party.
• York: Mark Warters, who was elected as an Independent councillor for Osbaldwick and Derwent ward, has joined Restore Britain.

New vacancies

• Brentwood: Brentwood West ward, after the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Sarah Cloke. Term ends 2028.
• Chelmsford: Broomfield and The Walthams ward, after the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Nicola Bugbee. Term ends 2027.
• Crawley: Three Bridges ward, after the resignation of Conservative councillor Brenda Burgess. Term ends 2027.
• Fylde: Kirkham ward, after the resignation of Independent councillor Damian Buckley. Term ends 2027.
• Hounslow: Hounslow West ward, after the death of former Labour council leader Jagdish Sharma. His term was due to end in May so no byelection follows.
• Leeds: Adel and Wharfedale ward, after the resignation of Conservative councillor Caroline Anderson. Term ends 2028.
• Leeds: Morley North ward, after the resignation of Morley Borough Independents councillor Robert Finnigan. Term ends 2027.
• Lewes: Newhaven South ward, after the resignations of Liberal Democrat councillors James MacCleary and Christopher von Kurthy. Terms end 2027.
• Mid Sussex: Hurstpierpoint ward, after the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Alison Bennett, now Member of Parliament for Mid Sussex. Term ends 2027.
• Norwich: Wensum ward, after the resignation of Green Party councillor Liam Calvert. Term ends 2027.
• St Helens: Rainhill ward, after the resignation of ‘The Independents’ councillor Kate Stevenson. Her term would have ended in May so no byelection will be held.
• Salford: Cadishead and Lower Irlam ward, after the resignation of Labour councillor Lewis Nelson. Term ends 2028.

Dates for byelections

• Basingstoke and Deane: There will be a double vacancy election in Oakley and The Candovers ward on 7 May.
• Brentwood: There will be a double vacancy election in Brentwood West ward on 7 May.
• Chelmsford: The byelection due in Broomfield and The Walthams ward will be held on 7 May.
• Chesterfield: The byelection for two seats due in Staveley North ward will be held on 7 May.
• Crawley: There will be a double vacancy election in Three Bridges ward on 7 May.
• Dudley: There will be a double vacancy election in Wollaston and Stourbridge Town ward on 7 May.
• Great Yarmouth: The byelection due in Caister South ward will be held on 7 May.
• Hertsmere: The byelection due in Bentley Heath and The Royds will be held on 7 May.
• Horsham: The byelection due in Itchingfield, Slinfold and Warnham will be held on 7 May.
• Knowsley: There will be a double vacancy election in Roby ward on 7 May.
• Leeds: There will be a double vacancy election in Adel and Wharfedale ward on 7 May.
• Leeds: There will be a double vacancy election in Morley North ward on 7 May.
• Leeds: There will be a double vacancy election in Temple Newsam ward on 7 May.
• Lewes: The byelection for two seats in Newhaven South ward will be held on 7 May.
• Mid Sussex: The byelection due in Hurstpierpoint ward will be held on 7 May.
• Newport: The byelection due in Rogerstone North ward will be held on 7 May.
• Powys: The byelection due in Llandrindod South ward will be held on 7 May.
• Rochford: There will be a double vacancy election in Downhall and Rawreth ward on 7 May.
• Rochford: There will be a double vacancy election in Hawkwell East ward on 7 May.
• Rother: The byelection due in Rye and Winchelsea ward will be held on 7 May.
• Salford: There will be a double vacancy election in Cadishead and Lower Irlam ward on 7 May.
• Sheffield: There will be a double vacancy election in Beighton ward on 7 May.
• Sheffield: There will be a double vacancy election in Firth Park ward on 7 May.
• Stevenage: There will be a double vacancy election in St Nicholas ward on 7 May.
• Welwyn Hatfield: There will be a double vacancy election in Welwyn East ward on 7 May.
• Wolverhampton: There will be a double vacancy election in Wednesfield South on 7 May.

Other updates

• On Wednesday the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local government announced the government’s decisions on reorganisation in the six priority areas. In four of them (Essex, Hampshire, Norfolk and Suffolk) the government has proposed new unitary councils; in East and West Sussex, further consultation has been started.

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