Multi-party politics merry-go-round - first magazine for councillors
Reform UK gained three seats from the Conservatives, but two others moved in the opposite direction. The Liberal Democrats and Greens each inflicted defeat on the Conservatives, but the outcomes of those. . .
Reform UK gained three seats from the Conservatives, but two others moved in the opposite direction. The Liberal Democrats and Greens each inflicted defeat on the Conservatives, but the outcomes of those contests point to local rather than national circumstance. More parties are contesting local elections, but the withdrawal of Independents is also affecting the distribution of electoral support. In nine cases, an Independent had contested the previous May election but not the by-election, making it difficult to interpret these results. The Conservatives were favourites to take Fylde’s Kirkham ward, having finished the closest party challenger to the three Independents elected in 2023. A complicating factor this time was the presence of Reform’s Joshua Roberts on the ballot, who took the county division in 2025, but the absence of an Independent worked to the Conservatives’ advantage. Malvern Hills Independents easily won Alfrick, Leigh and Rushwick last time, with two-thirds of the vote, but chose not to contest the vacancy. The Liberal Democrats came bottom then, but won a four-party strong race this time. Last May, Reform won Essex, adding to its impressive portfolio of county council control. It also gained 13 seats on Rochford Council. This time, the Conservatives chose Stuart Belton for the Rayleigh West county vacancy and his wife Danielle to contest the district seat. Reform’s vote fell by 15 points in both elections. By contrast, Reform gained Hawcoat and Newbarns from the Conservatives in Westmorland and Furness, winning almost half the vote from a standing start. Their victory was built on the decline of both the Conservative and Labour vote combined, with the absence of any Independent. A crop of by-elections in Wales stemmed from councillors resigning after being elected as members of the Senedd. Reform took advantage in Conwy, taking Tudno and Gogarth Mostyn from the Conservatives. Both wards featured well-supported Independents at the previous election, but none this time. Reform won both seats from a standing start, albeit one with less than a quarter of the votes. The Conservatives lost seats to the Liberal Democrats in Swansea’s Fairwood ward, and to the Greens, who gained Slough’s Cippenham Green ward having not contested there before. In Fairwood, the Conservative vote slumped, reflecting the strong personal vote for former Cllr Paxton Hood-Williams, whose death prompted the vacancy. In Slough, seven Labour councillors left the party in 2024 over Gaza to sit as Independents, but then joined the Liberal Democrats a year later. In the end, the Greens edged it by five votes over the Conservatives, with Labour in third place. By-electionsCheshire West and Chester, Christleton and HuntingtonCON HELD2. 5% over Green | Turnout 44. 6%Conwy, Gogarth MostynRef gain from con6. 1% over Con | Turnout 26. 1%Conwy, TudnoREF GAIN FROM CON21. 5% over Con | Turnout 23. 2%Dacorum, Apsley and Corner HallLIB DEM HELD8. 4% over Ref | Turnout 30. 8%Dorset, BridportLIB DEM HELD20. 4% over Ref | Turnout 42. 6%Essex, Rayleigh WestCON GAIN FROM REF6. 1% over Lib Dem | Turnout 31. 9%Fylde, KirkhamCON GAIN FROM IND33. 3% over Ref | Turnout 34. 0%Lancaster, CastleGREEN HELD54. 2% over Lab | Turnout 24. 8%Lewisham, Crofton ParkGREEN HELD0. 3% over Lab | Turnout 26. 9%Malvern Hills, Alfrick,Leigh & RushwickLIB DEM GAIN FROM IND3. 5% over Con | Turnout 37. 8%New Forest, Bransgore, Burley, Sopley and Ringwood EastCON HELD15. 0% over Green | Turnout 32. 2%Rochford, Sweyne Park & GrangeCON GAIN FROM REF31. 3% over Ref | Turnout 37%Slough, Cippenham GreenGREEN GAIN FROM CON0. 3% over Con | Turnout 32. 1%Swansea, FairwoodLIB DEM GAIN FROM CON6. 7% over Lab | Turnout 35. 9%Swansea, MorristonLAB HELD3. 3% over Ref | Turnout 20. 8%Swansea, MumblesCON HELD18. 9% over Lab | Turnout 37. 2%Westmorland and Furness, Hawcoat and NewbarnsREF GAIN FROM CON23. 9% over Lab | Turnout 27. 2%Wrexham, Acton and MaesydrePLAID HELD4. 7% over Ref | Turnout 23. 5%Wrexham, GrosvenorPLAID HELD21. 5% over Ref | Turnout 24. 1%Wrexham, QueenswayPLAID HELD3. 5% over Ref | Turnout 16. 2%