Five principal authority by-elections took place last Thursday, across four councils. The Liberal Democrats were not defending any seats, and though we did not win a contest during this relatively quiet week we still came out with some very strong results.

East Devon DC, Exmouth Brixington

Conservative: 537 (35.2%, -2%)
Lib Dem (Andrew Colman): 450 (29.5%, -3%)
Reform UK: 439 (28.7%, new)
Green Party: 101 (6.6%, -2.1%)

Conservative HOLD

Well done to Andrew Colman and the local team for a very strong second place in East Devon. Being only 88 votes off winning must have hurt. But keep your heads held high for keeping a 30% vote share in the face of Reform UK standing in the seat for the first time. Though the Conservatives held the ward – we are still in a great position to challenge next time.

South Gloucestershire DC, Longwell

Conservative: 951 (37.3%, -11.2%)
Reform UK: 698 (27.4%, new)
Lib Dem (Jim Corrigan): 511 (20%, -10.5%)
Labour: 246 (9.7%, new)
Green Party: 143 (5.6%, new)

Conservative HOLD

We also achieved a strong third-place result in South Gloucestershire. Well done to Jim Corriganfor polling over 500 votes in a multi-party contest that saw Reform, Labour and Green Party stand in a seat they did not contest last time.

Medway DC, Cuxton, Halling and Riverside

Reform UK: 838 (35.6%, new)
Conservative: 726 (30.9%, -12.9%)
Green Party: 482 (20.5%, -11.4%)
Labour: 269 (11.4%, -9.1%)
Lib Dem (Ronald Gillett): 35 (1.5%, -2.3%)

Reform UK GAIN from Conservative

We also contested a vacancy in Medway Council. Thank you to Ronald Gillett for flying the flag and ensuring residents had a Lib Dem candidate to vote for. Reform UK gained the seat from the Conservatives.

Thurrock Council, Gray’s Town

Labour: 673 (37%, +5.3%)
Reform UK: 491 (27%, -7.8%)
Independent: 235 (13%, new)
Conservative: 224 (12.3%, +1.3%)
Green Party: 160 (8.8%, -7.3%)
Lib Dem (Simon Lancaster): 34 (1.9%, -4.5%)

Labour GAIN from Reform

There were also two by-elections on Thurrock Council. Thank you to Simon Lancaster for standing in Gray’s Town ward and making sure the Lib Dems were represented. There was also a contest in Gray’s Riverside that the Lib Dems did not contest. Labour gained both seats from Reform UK.

A full summary of these results, and all other principal council by-elections, can be found on the ALDC by-elections page here.

* ALDC is the Association of Liberal Democrat Councillors and Campaigners