This week saw the first time that the Liberal Democrats had stood a candidate in the Ashford Town ward (Spelthorne) since 2007. An extremely strong campaign by us saw the Lib Dems gaining the seat from the Conservatives. Well done to Gregory Neall and the team for leaping ahead of the others and winning the seat, despite not standing in Ashford Town for nearly 20 years.

Spelthorne BC, Ashford Town
Liberal Democrats (Gregory Neall): 539 (27.4%, new)
Reform UK: 459 (23.4%, +21.0)
Conservative: 374 (19.0%, -18.4)
Labour: 234 (11.9%, -2.2)

Liberal Democrats GAIN from Conservative

The Highlands saw two by-elections being held. Whilst Cromarty Firth saw a missed opportunity for the crowded field of independent candidates, in Eilean a’ Cheò we came a close second place, greatly improving on our vote share. Thank you to Ross Costigane, Fay Thomson and the Highland team for their efforts, particularly in Eilean a’ Cheò.

Highland Council, Eilean a’ Cheò
Independent (Gillies): 823 (23.5%, new)
Liberal Democrats (Fay Thomson): 741 (21.6%, +18.1)
Independent (Dickson): 655 (18.7%, new)
SNP: 527 (15.1%, -7.1)
Independent (MacDonald): 276 (7.3%, new)
Scottish Greens: 239 (6.8%, new)
Reform UK: 157 (4.5%, new)
Conservative: 86 (2.5%, -8.2)

Independent (Gillies) GAIN from Independent

Highland Council, Cromarty Firth
SNP: 568 (23.8%, +6.8)
Independent (Cross): 503 (21.1%, +9.1)
Independent (Rattray): 368 (15.4%, +1.8)
Reform UK: 348 (14.6%, +11.4)
Liberal Democrats (Ross Costigane): 290 (12.2%, -8.1)
Scottish Greens: 92 (3.9%, +0.1%)
Alba: 91 (3.8%, new)
Labour: 77 (3.2%, -0.0)
Conservative: 48 (2.0%, -0.4)

Independent (Cross) GAIN from Independent
 

In Scarborough, Reform UK secured on overwhelming victory for a seat on North Yorkshire’s unitary authority. Thank you to Mark Harrison and the team for their efforts representing the Liberal Democrats in Eastfield. 

North Yorkshire UA, Eastfield
Reform UK: 538 (62.7%, new)
Labour: 121 (14.1%, -1.6)
Social Justice Party: 118 (13.8%, -32.6)
Conservative: 40 (4.7%, -1.7)
Mark Harrison: 24 (2.8%, -23.3)
Green Party: 17 (2.0%, +0.2)

Reform UK GAIN from Independent
 

In Sefton, there was a missed opportunity for Reform UK, after their candidate had her support withdrawn following previous comments. Thank you to Keith Cawdron and the term for flying the Lib Dem flag.

Sefton MBC, Blundellsands 
Labour: 1,190 (43.8%, -24.8)
Green Party: 420 (15.5%, +7,3)
Reform UK: 386 (14.2%, new)
Liberal Democrats (Keith Cawdron): 370 (13.6%, +6.8)
Conservative: 287 (10.6%, -6.1)
TUSC: 35 (1.3%, new)
Independent: 27 (1.0%, new)

Labour HOLD

Finally, Buckingham (Adur) saw an expected Labour victory due to vote splitting between Reform UK and the Conservatives. Thank you to Ian Jones and the team for representing the Liberal Democrats in Adur. 

Adur DC, Buckingham
Labour: 609 (43.7%, -7.2)
Reform UK: 311 (22.3%, new)
Conservative: 301 (21.6%, -10.1)
Liberal Democrats (Ian Jones): 153 (10.9%, -1.4)
Britain First: 22 (1.6%, new)

Labour HOLD
 

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