This week, there were seven principal council by-elections, of which five were in England, one was in Wales, whilst another was in Scotland. There were two Tuesday by-elections and a further five on Thursday.

We start our deep dive into the results Cotswold DC, where the Green Party were defending the ward of The Rissingtons, and we won a stupendous victory. Congratulations to Cllr Craig Thurling and the local team on an amazing result. We had not even stood in this seat in the previous election but from nowhere we took 37.5% of the vote on a massive 43% turnout. The Green Party collapsed and fell to last place!

Cotswold District Council, The Rissingtons
Liberal Democrat: (Craig Thurling) – 321 (37.5%, New)
Conservative: 268 – (31.3%, -11.5)
Reform UK: 221 – (25.8%, New)
Green: 47 – (5.5%, -51.7)

In Scotland, the SNP comfortably held Glenrothes West and Kinglassie ward on Fife Council, with Reform distant in second place on first preferences. Thank you to Ed Scotcher and the local team for flying the Liberal Democrat flag.

Fife Council, Glenrothes West and Kinglassie (first preferences)
SNP: 1,167 – (44.3%, -5.3)
Reform: 725 – (27.5%, New)
Labour: 413 – (15.7%, -16.8)
Conservative: 182 – (6.9%, -4.7)
Liberal Democrats (Ed Scotcher) – 125 (4.7%, +0.9)
SFP: 25, (0.9%, New)

In Wales, Reform gained Leeswood ward on Flintshire CC from Labour, who slumped to fourth amid split opposition from various independent candidates. Thank you to Richard Sefton and the local team for flying the Liberal Democrat flag. We had not stood here last time so getting 10% of the vote is a great step in the right direction.

Flintshire County Council, Leeswood
Reform: 160 (22.3%, New)
Independent (Caruana): 138 (19.2%, -5.6)
Independent (Rule): 135 (18.8%, +4.3)
Labour: 87 (12.1%, -48.5)
Independent (FPV): 79 (11.0%, New)
Liberal Democrat (Richard Sefton): 68 (9.5%, New)
Conservative: 34 (4.7%, New)
Independent (Owen): 17 (2.4%, New)

On South Norfolk DC, the Conservatives successfully defended Central Wymondham ward. But massive well done to Lib Dem candidate Stephen Witt for not just ensuring a Lib Dem choice on the ballot, but picking up 12% in a ward we had not stood in last time and coming in ahead of Labour.

South Norfolk District Council, Central Wymondham
Conservative – 545 (31.1%, -4.6)
Green – 454 (25.9%, -3.7)
Reform UK – 363 (20.7%, +15.1)
Liberal Democrat (Stephen Witt) – 211 (12.0%, New)
Labour – 182 (10.4%, -18.8)

In Cheshire West and Chester, the Conservatives held Willaston and Thornton ward, with Labour far back in second place. Thank you to Carol Braithwaite and the local team for standing here and increasing the Lib Dem vote share.

Cheshire West and Chester Council, Willaston and Thornton
Conservative: 997 (53.8%, -7.1)
Labour: 318 (17.2%, -9.3)
Reform UK: 299 (16.1%, New)
Liberal Democrat (Carol Braithwaite): 132 (7.1%, +2.4)
Green: 107 (5.8%, -2.2)

Two by-elections took place in Derbyshire on Tuesday, covering a district ward and a county division at opposite ends of the same district. Whilst Reform gained this district seat off Labour, the Greens were able to comfortably gain the county division off Reform. Thank you to Adrian Miller, Gemma Davey and the local teams for flying the Liberal Democrat flag.

Derbyshire County Council, Horsley
Green Party: 1,341 (43.6%, +16.7)
Reform UK: 1,091 (35.5%, +0.6)
Conservative: 426 (13.9%, -8.9)
Labour: 116 (3.8%, -6.5)
Advance UK: 57 (1.9%, new)
Liberal Democrats (Adrian Miller): 43 (1.4%, – 2.0)

Amber Valley Borough Council, Codnor, Langley Mill and Aldercar
Reform UK: 595 (45.6%, +24.1)
Labour: 249 (19.1%, -20.8)
Advance UK: 161 (12.3%, new)
Conservative: 130 (10.0%, – 15.3)
Green Party: 77 (5.9%, -5.6)
Derbs. Community: 50 (3.8%, new)
Liberal Democrats (Gemma Davey): 42 (3.2%, new)

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.

* Charles Quinn is Campaigns Organiser for ALDC and a local councillor in Hull.