Ambling back to Labour

Posted by David Boothroyd
View David's blog
4 hours ago / October 2, 2026

The latest updates on local electoral information are as follows.

Results

  • Blackpool: The byelection in Claremont ward held on 1 October was won by Katie Donnelli-Hunn. Labour hold.
  • Highland: The byelection in Wick and East Caithness ward held on 1 October was won by Julie Calder. Liberal Democrat gain from an Independent.
  • North West Leicestershire: The byelection in Long Whatton and Diseworth ward held on 1 October was won by Craig Smith. Conservative hold.
  • Northumberland: The byelection in Amble division held on 1 October was won by Amy Spriggs. Labour gain from Reform UK.
  • Northumberland: The byelection in Hirst division held on 1 October was won by Melanie Fox. Labour gain from an Independent elected for Reform UK.
  • Stirling: The byelection in Forth and Endrick ward held on 1 October was won by Katie Harrison. Conservative hold.

Defections

  • Argyll and Bute: Yvonne McNeilly, who was elected as a Conservative councillor for Cowal ward but left the party in July, has now joined the Labour Party. Meanwhile Ian MacQuire who was elected for the Scottish National Party in Helensburgh Central ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor (but is continuing to support the administration).
  • Ashfield: Warren Nuttall, who was elected for Ashfield Independents in Greenwood and Summit ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor. He sought to join Reform UK but was rejected.
  • Barnsley: Stephen Bullcock, who was elected for the Liberal Democrats in Kingstone ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.
  • East Riding of Yorkshire: Steve Gallant, who was elected for the Labour Party in South West Holderness ward, has joined the Conservative Party.
  • Gateshead: Peter Maughan, who was elected for the Liberal Democrats in Dunston Hill and Whickham East ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.
  • Gloucestershire: Michael Rees, who was elected for Reform UK in Cam Valley division, has joined Restore Britain.
  • Great Yarmouth: James Bensly, who was elected for the Conservatives in East Flegg ward, has joined Great Yarmouth First. His move may endanger the minority Conservative administration.
  • Horsham: Sam Bateman, who was elected for the Liberal Democrats in Billinghurst ward, has been suspended from the party and is sitting as an Independent councillor.
  • Luton: Two councillors elected for the Labour Party but who left the party in July to form the Independent Alliance, have now joined the Green Party although they remain in the Independent Alliance Group. They are Yarun Begum (Lewsey ward) and Rumy Chowdhury (Beech Hill ward).
  • Middlesbrough: Ian Morrish, an Independent councillor for Marton West ward who was in the Middlesbrough Independent Councillors Association, has left the group.
  • Neath Port Talbot: A new Communities First Independent group has been formed by three councillors from the Independent group. They are Steve Hunt (Crynant, Onllwyn and Seven Sisters ward), Jeremy Hurley (Cimla and Pelenna ward), and Scott Jones (Gwynfi and Croeserw ward).
  • Pembrokeshire: Pendle: Two councillors elected for the Liberal Democrats have joined the Conservative Party. They are Bryony Hartley (Barnoldswick ward) and David Hartley (Earby and Coates ward). As a result the Pendle Community Independents/Liberal Democrat coalition administration is now a minority.
  • Peterborough: Peter Reeve, who was elected for Reform UK in Stanground South ward, has been suspended from the party and is sitting as an Independent councillor.
  • Rother: Cheryl Creaser, who was elected for the Labour Party in Rye and Winchelsea ward but left the party in January, has now joined the Conservatives. Also Connor Winter, who was elected as an Independent in Bexhill St Marks ward, has joined the Conservatives.
  • Somerset: Val Keitch, who was elected for the Liberal Democrats in Ilminster division, has left the council group, but remains a member of the party.
  • Staffordshire Moorlands: Joe Porter, who was elected for the Conservatives in Brown Edge and Endon ward, has left the party to sit as a non-aligned councillor.

New vacancies

  • Durham: Craghead and South Moor division, after the resignation of Reform UK councillor Aaron Hillam. Term ends 2029.
  • East Ayrshire: Cumnock and New Cumnock ward, after the death of Labour councillor William Crawford. Term ends 2027.
  • Fareham: Portchester Wiccor ward, after the resignation of Independent councillor Robert Turner, who was elected for the Liberal Democrats. Term ends 2030.
  • North East Lincolnshire: Croft Baker ward, after the resignation of Labour councillor Marian Jervis due to ill health. Term ends 2028.
  • Oldham: Failsworth West ward, after the resignation of Reform UK councillor Mark Wilkinson, who was elected as an Independent candidate. Term ends 2028.
  • Staffordshire Moorlands: Cheddleton ward, after the resignation of Labour councillor Dylan Pascall who is moving out of the district. Term ends 2027.
  • Suffolk: Bosmere division, after the resignation of Reform UK county councillor Gary Keogh. Term ends 2029.

Dates for byelections

Other updates

  • Neath Port Talbot: A new administration has been formed by Plaid Cymru, the Communities First Independent group, the Liberal Democrats and an Independent.

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