This week may have seen a Parliamentary by-election, in Scotland, but there is plenty to report on the local election front, with eight principal local authority polls, each with a Liberal Democrat candidate. Despite the talk of multi-party politics, in terms of local by-elections, it seems to have been a period of 2-party politics win-wise, (albeit not the traditional one), since 1^st May. Today’s wins split four each for the Liberal Democrats and Reform UK.

Let’s start in Wokingham, which garnered interest from several parties. Maiden Erlegh & Whitegates is a Conservative defence in a Labour constituency and a Liberal Democrat-run council, and Reform were looking to come through the middle. The Lib Dems have been running the council by virtue of the mayor’s casting vote, but a victory here would give us outright control of the council. Congratulations therefore to Cllr Mike Smith and the Lib Dem team for not only a great council seat gain, but a great council gain too!

Wokingham Borough Council, Maiden Erlegh & Whitegates
Liberal Democrats (Mike Smith): 1028 (31.2%, +3.2)
Labour: 793 (24.1%, -0.2)
Conservative: 788 (23.9%, -4.2)
Reform UK: 486 (14.8%, new)
Green Party: 180 (5.5%, -6.2)
TUSC: 17 (0.5%, new)

Liberal Democrats GAIN from Conservative

There were three polls in West Sussex, where the Lib Dems were looking to defend two and gain one. Congratulations to Cllr Sam Raby for a great gain from the Conservatives, whilst holding of a Reform challenge.

West Sussex County Council, St Leonard’s Forest
Liberal Democrats (Sam Raby): 644 (32.5%, +2.2)
Reform UK: 584 (29.5%, new)
Conservative: 401 (20.2%, -34.3)
Green Party: 259 (13.1%, new)
Labour: 94 (4.7%, -10.4)

Liberal Democrats GAIN from Conservative

The other two West Sussex by-elections were defences in Burgess Hill. First, congratulations to Cllr Jane Davey, whose vote share held up despite Reform UK entering the field.

West Sussex County Council, Burgess Hill North
Liberal Democrats (Jane Davey): 1088 (40.9%, +0.0)
Reform UK: 707 (26.6%, new)
Conservative: 618 (23.3%, -14.9)
Green Party: 153 (5.8%, -5.4)
Labour: 92 (3.5%, -6.2)

Liberal Democrats HOLD

Congratulations too to Cllr Erika Woodhurst-Trueman, who strongly held with over half of the vote.

West Sussex County Council, Hassocks & Burgess Hill South
Liberal Democrats (Erika Woodhurst-Trueman): 1694 (55.3%, -6.6)
Reform UK: 762 (24.9%, new)
Conservative: 310 (10.1%, -15.9)
Green Party: 175 (5.7%, new)
Labour: 123 (4.0%, -8.1)

Liberal Democrats HOLD

Meanwhile, in West Norfolk, there were two Labour defences, where the Lib Dems and Reform UK were looking to make progress. A brilliant effort by Crystal Colwell and the team, but commiserations as Reform took Fairstead ward by just 14 votes. Keep going!

Kings Lynn & West Norfolk Borough Council, Fairstead
Reform UK: 289 (39.1%)
Liberal Democrats (Crystal Colwell): 275 (37.2%)
Labour: 118 (16.0%)
Green Party: 36 (4.9%)
Independent: 21 (2.8%)

Reform UK GAIN from Labour

Another good effort from the team in North Lynn, where Geri Sayers achieved a good second-place.

Kings Lynn & West Norfolk Borough Council, North Lynn
Reform UK: 278 (49.6%)
Liberal Democrats (Geri Sayers): 123 (22.0%)
Labour: 107 (19.1%)
Green Party: 52 (9.3%)

Reform UK GAIN from Labour

Elsewhere, in Derbyshire, Labour again lost a seat to Reform UK, with the Lib Dems now breathing down the neck of the Conservatives. Thank you to Paul Slater and the team for flying the Lib Dem flag.

Amber Valley Borough Council, Somercotes
Reform UK: 396 (45.3%, +36.6)
Labour: 346 (39.6%, -22.4)
Conservative: 53 (6.1%, -13.5)
Liberal Democrats (Paul Slater): 48 (5.5%, +0.7)
Green Party: 20 (2.2%, -3.0)
Independent: 11 (1.3%, new)

Reform UK GAIN from Labour

Finally, in what one might now call the Reform heartlands, another Reform UK gain, this time from the Conservatives. Thanks to Helen Fontaine and the team for getting the Lib Dems onto the ballot this time.

Tendring District Council, Frinton
Reform UK: 1222 (57.2%, new)
Conservative: 577 (27.0%, -15.0)
Labour: 168 (7.9%, -7.0)
Green Party: 93 (4.3%, -8.0)
Liberal Democrats (Helen Fontaine): 78 (3.6%, new)

Reform UK GAIN from Conservative

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