This week, there were seven local by-elections, of which there was a Liberal Democrat candidate in all but one contest. The six-month rule has now come into effect for seats that are up in 2026, so no more for this cycle will be called.
We start in Stratford-on-Avon, where there were two by-elections. One was a Liberal Democrat defence, whilst the other saw the Conservatives defending their seat. In the former, we successfully defended this seat. However, in the latter seat Reform were able to successfully gain off the Conservatives, only 3 votes ahead of us. Congratulations are due to Paul Harrison for his win. Commiserations to Huw Lewis and the local team for the extremely close result.
Stratford-on-Avon District Council, Quinton
Liberal Democrats (Paul Harrison): 437 (47.3%, +3.5)
Reform UK: 306 (33.1%, new)
Conservatives: 137 (14.8%, –26.2)
Green Party: 35 (3.8%, –4.7)
Labour: 9 (1.0%, –5.7)
Liberal Democrats HOLD
Turnout: 30.41%
Stratford-on-Avon District Council, Salford Priors and Alcester Rural
Reform UK: 272 (33.3%, new)
Liberal Democrats (Huw Lewis): 269 (32.9%, +9.7)
Conservatives: 227 (27.8%, –29.1)
Green Party: 31 (3.8%, –5.3)
Labour: 18 (2.2%, –8.6)
Reform UK GAIN from Conservative
Turnout: 33%
In one of two contests in the North West, the Conservatives successfully gained this seat on Trafford Council. Thank you to Jason Stack and the local team for flying the Liberal Democrat flag in this by-election.
Trafford Council, Hale
Conservative: 1,521 (46.5%, +9.7)
Green Party: 1,245 (38.1%, –9.6)
Reform UK: 264 (8.1%, new)
Labour: 138 (4.2%, –7.6)
Liberal Democrats (Jason Stack): 101 (3.1%, –0.6)
Conservative GAIN from Green Party
Turnout: 42%
In our other North West by-election, the Greens were able to win this seat in Cheshire in a convincing victory. This is their first ever councillor in Cheshire East. Thank you to Stephen Broadhead and the local team for flying the Liberal Democrat flag.
Cheshire East Council, Macclesfield Council
Green Party: 750 (41.8%, +19.7)
Labour: 513 (28.6%, –25.7)
Reform UK: 283 (15.8%, new)
Conservatives: 164 (9.1%, –4.5)
Equality Party: 45 (2.5%, new)
Liberal Democrats (Stephen Broadhead): 40 (2.2%, –7.7)
Green Party GAIN from Labour
Turnout: 24.21%
In Hastings, Reform were able to gain this seat off the Conservatives (if Reform), with their first elected county councillor in East Sussex. Thank you to Martin Griffiths and the local team for flying the Liberal Democrat flag.
East Sussex County Council, Ashdown and Conquest
Reform UK: 797 (32.2%, new)
Green Party: 607 (24.5%, +16.4)
Conservatives: 494 (19.9%, –39.8)
Labour: 395 (15.9%, –7.4)
Liberal Democrats (Martin Griffiths): 129 (5.2%, –3.5)
Independent: 55 (2.2%, new)
Reform UK GAIN from Conservative
Turnout: 30.88%
In Scotland, the Conservatives were able to gain this seat. Thank you to Tracey Warman and the local team for flying the Liberal Democrat flag.
Dumfries and Galloway Council, Stranraer and the Rhins
First Preferences:
Reform UK: 1,386 (34.4%, new)
Conservative: 1,302 (33.5%, –7.4)
SNP: 541 (13.9%, –9.1)
Labour: 239 (6.1%, –3.7)
Independent: 207 (5.3%, new)
Green Party: 141 (3.6%, +1.1)
Liberal Democrats (Tracey Warman): 96 (2.5%, new)
Heritage Party: 27 (0.7%, new)
Conservative GAIN from Independent
Elected at Stage 7
Turnout: 34.29%
Here are the results of the by-election on Teesside, where there was no Liberal Democrat candidate.
Redcar and Cleveland Council, South Bank
Labour: 368 (47.4%, –17.8)
Reform UK: 344 (44.3%, new)
Conservatives: 64 (8.2%, –4.3)
Labour HOLD
Turnout: 20.03%
Thank you to all of our candidates, agents, and campaign teams. A full summary of these results, and all other principal council by-elections, can be found on the ALDC by-elections page here.
* Liam Yip is the Campaigns and Communications Intern at ALDC
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9 Comments
What the heck is going on (or not going on) in Redcar ? It had a Lib Dem MP as recently as 2025. Focussing on low hanging fruit in the Home Counties is not a recipe for the Liberal Democrats to ever form a government…….. or to have a serious influence on UK politics.
Time for the High Head’yins in London to get on a train at Kings Cross and Euston and try to do something about it. They won’t get altitude sickness by getting north of St Albans and Potters Bar.
I believe the Dumfries and Galloway result is the first election in Scotland where Reform had the largest share of the vote even though they didn’t win due to redistribution of votes as candidates were eliminated (under STV). This will certainly give them encouragement with the Scottish parliamentary elections just over 5 months away.
Seven Seats of which Reform got only two, a sign that the slow fall in their support shown in the Polls is working through into real failures on the ground ? The Redcar seat looked made for Reform. There were clear signs in several of these contests of Tactical Voting against Reform.
Also another Week with no evidence of Green advances in real Votes.
Outside of the Stratford results (and why didnt we welly the other seat) our vote outside of South Bank fell off cliff again.
I have just enjoyed my favourite coffee with the finest Scottish shortbread and read some analysis by David Raw. All the chores are done and the FOCUSes don’t have to be delivered until Tuesday. Strictly from Blackpool is on in a couple of hours. This is rapidly turning into my dream evening….
@ Ruth Bright Bless you, Ruth.
David – We didn’t hold Redcar until 2025. Typo by you?
Yes, a typo, Tim. I submitted an immediate correction to 2015, as soon as I noticed it but still in the Editor’s in-tray as I’m sure they’ll confirm.
But……. thanks for giving me the opportunity to point out again how the North has been allowed to wither away compared to the South East…… making the Lib Dems a regional rather than a national party. Dumfries & Galloway confirms what’s really happening even further north……. and as for Wales ?
Written in sadness not joy.
The Party has just appointed the excellent John Potter as NW Regional Campaigns Manager. I believe this maybe part of the 2029 strategy of expanding beyond the Blue Wall, including some seats where we were decent 3rd place in Labour seats, in 2024.