Tories take back Alfred Roberts’s seat

Posted by David Boothroyd
View David's blog
3 hours ago / October 23, 2026

The latest updates on local electoral information are as follows.

Results

  • Carmarthenshire: The byelection in Saron ward held on 22 October was won by Nicholas Craig Davies. Plaid Cymru gain from Labour.
  • East Hertfordshire: The byelection in Hertford Kingsmead ward held on 22 October was won by Rosemary Bolton. Conservative gain from Green Party.
  • Leeds: The byelection in Calverley and Farsley ward held on 22 October was won by Amanda Carter. Conservative gain from Labour.
  • South Kesteven: The byelection in Grantham St Wulfram’s ward held on 22 October was won by Ben Lavender. Conservative gain from a Grantham Independent.
  • Wychavon: The byelection in Hartlebury ward held on 22 October was won by Tony Miller. Conservative hold.

Defections

  • Ashfield: Following the conviction of Ashfield Independents founder Jason Zadrozny last month, ten councillors have left the party and are now sitting as Independents. The remaining Ashfield Independents therefore have an overall majority of one seat at present.
  • Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole: Adrian Chapmanlaw, who was elected for the Liberal Democrats in Alderney and Bourne Valley ward, has been suspended from the party and is sitting as an ungrouped councillor.
  • Basildon: Val Robbins, who was elected as an Independent in Langdon Hills ward, has joined Reform UK.
  • Broadland: Grant Nurden, who was elected for the Conservatives in Marshes ward but left the party in July 2025, has now returned to it.
  • Charnwood: Lee Westley, who was elected for the Conservatives in Quorn and Mountsorrel Castle ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.
  • Darlington: Gerald Lee, who was elected for the Conservatives in Heighington and Coniscliffe ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.
  • Havant: Caren Diamond, who was elected for Reform UK in Purbrook ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.
  • Hounslow: Guy Lambert, who was elected for the Green Party in Brentford West ward, has been suspended from the party and is sitting as an Independent councillor.
  • Lewes: Chris Collier, who was elected for the Labour Party in Peacehaven West ward, has left the party to sit as an Indpendent councillor, although he remains Cabinet member for Innovation in the ruling coalition.
  • Monmouthshire: Rachel Garrick, who was elected for the Labour Party in Caldicot Castle ward, has joined Plaid Cymru. She has been joined by Sue Riley (Bulwark and Thornwell ward), who left Labour in May.
  • North Kesteven: Adrian Whittle, who was elected for the Liberal Democrats in Billinghay Rural ward, has joined the Conservative Party.
  • Oldham: Lewis Quigg, who was elected for the Conservatives in Royton North ward but joined Reform UK in September 2025 and was its group leader, has now left that party to sit as an Independent councillor. Gary Tarbuck, who was elected for Reform UK in St James ward, has also been suspended from the party.
  • Nottinghamshire: John Wilmott, who was elected for the Ashfield Independents in Hucknall North division, has left the party to sit as an Independent county councillor.
  • Redcar and Cleveland: Jade Lavan, who was elected for the Labour Party in Zetland ward but left the party last October, has now returned.
  • Southwark: Pascale Mitchell, who was elected for the Green Party in Chaucer ward, has left the party group to sit as an Independent councillor (but retains her membership of the party itself).
  • Swansea: Richard Lewis, who was elected for the Conservatives in Gower ward but left the party in August 2025, has now joined Reform UK.
  • Tameside: Danny Carr, who was elected for Reform UK in Ashton St Michael’s ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.
  • Wychavon: Neil Franks, who was elected for the Green Party in Droitwich East ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.

New vacancies

Dates for byelections

  • Birmingham: The byelection due in Shard End ward will be held on 26 November.
  • Bromsgrove: The byelection due in Marlbrook ward will be held on 26 November.
  • Dumfries and Galloway: The byelection due in Annandale East and Eskdale ward will be held on 10 December.
  • Flintshire: The byelection due in Mold Broncoed ward will be held on 26 November.
  • Gosport: The byelection due in Hardway ward will be held on 3 December.
  • Manchester: The byelection due in Harpurhey ward will be held on 26 November.
  • Reading: The byelection due in Caversham Heights ward will be held on 26 November.
  • Solihull: The byelection for three seats due in Castle Bromwich ward will be held on 26 November.

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