This week saw the first non-Thursday by-election of the new cycle, with a Labour defence in Stroud on Wednesday. The Green Party narrowly beat Reform UK and the Conservatives, as Labour were pushed into fourth place. Thank you to Mike Stayte and the team for flying the Lib Dem flag mid-week.

Stroud District Council, Severn
Green Party: 439 (27.8%, +10.0)
Conservative: 425 (26.9%, -6.6)
Reform UK: 421 (26.7%, new)
Labour: 177 (11.2%, -21.3)
Liberal Democrats (Mike Stayte): 112 (7.1%, -9.1)
UKIP: 5 (0.3%, new)

Green Party GAIN from Labour

This was followed by four Thursday elections, three of which had a Liberal Democrat on the ballot. It was another Green Party victory in Mid Suffolk, this time a hold. Thank you to Tim Glenton and the team for getting the Lib Dems onto the ballot this time, when we weren’t previously.

Mid Suffolk District Council, Haughley, Stowupland & Wetherden
Green Party: 901 (64.1%, -12.7)
Conservative: 444 (31.6%, +8.4)
Liberal Democrats (Tim Glenton): 61 (4.3%, new)

Green Party HOLD

In Leeds, Reform UK continued their strong performance against localists, this time gaining from Morley Borough Independents. Well done to Michael Fox and the team for jumping up into third place with a great vote share increase!

Leeds City Council MBC, Morley South
Reform UK: 2,119 (36.8%, +29.8)
Morley Borough Independents: 1,450 (25.2%, -12.9)
Liberal Democrats (Michael Fox): 1,009 (17.5%, +15.9)
Labour: 634 (11.0%, -20.3)
Green Party: 313 (4.3%, new)
Conservative: 230 (4.0%, -5.6)

Reform UK GAIN from Morley Borough Independents

The remaining two elections were countermanded elections from the set of 1^st May local elections. The original poll in Higham Ferrers was postponed due to the death of the Liberal Democrat candidate. A missed opportunity for Reform UK here, as they nominated three candidates for just two seats, and narrowly missed out on a gain. Thank you to Chris Nelson and the team for flying the flag for the Liberal Democrats.

North Northamptonshire Council UA, Higham Ferrers
Reform UK: 656 (14.0%)
Conservative: 559 (11.9%)
Reform UK: 556 (11.9%)
Green Party: 529 (11.3%)
Conservative: 511 (10.9%)
Green Party: 449 (9.6%)
Reform UK: 335 (7.2%)
Labour: 264 (5.6%)
Labour: 256 (5.5%)
Independent: 215 (4.6%)
Independent: 187 (4.0%)
Liberal Democrats (Chris Nelson): 165 (3.5%)

Reform UK GAIN from Conservative x 1
Conservative HOLD x 1

Finally, an election without a Lib Dem candidate, where the Conservatives and Labour were defending one seat each. This one had been postponed due to the death of the TUSC candidate.

Nottinghamshire County Council, Mansfield North
Reform UK: 3,077 (31.2%)
Reform UK: 2,998 (30.4%)
Labour: 1,259 (12.8%)
Labour: 1,211 (12.3%)
Conservative: 500 (5.1%)
Conservative: 426 (4.3%)
Green Party: 292 (3.0%)
TUSC: 62 (0.6%)
TUSC: 39 (0.4%)

Reform UK GAIN from Labour x1
Reform UK GAIN from Conservative x 1

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.

* Chris Ward is the Campaigns and Communications Intern for ALDC