Reform set to defend seats across Britain after two councillors step down

Susanna Siddell
Tue, 14 Apr 2026 23:01:02 +0000
Membership

Reform UK is gearing up to defend two local seats this Thursday as Britons head to the polls.

Narborough and Whetstone residents are set to elect a new county councillor to Leicestershire County Council, just as locals in Cramlington, Northumberland are set to cast their votes too.

Nigel Farage's party will be looking to secure a defence in both seats after two of the party's councillors resigned from their position several weeks ago.

Last year's local election results, however, indicate another victory for Reform UK, with both sets of results securing around 40 per cent of the vote.

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Narborough & Whetstone (Leicestershire)

Reform UK will be defending their seat in Leicestershire County Council this Thursday after their serving councillor stepped down back in February.

Andrew Thorp quit his post without giving a reason just 10 months after securing his seat last May.

While his party stormed to victory across England, the local councillor took home 42.3 per cent of the vote, with the Tories' candidate coming second with 24.5 per cent.

Currently, Reform UK runs a minority administration on the local authority with 23 councillors.

The local Conservatives serve as the governing party's main opposition on the county council with 15 seats.

The authority also has 11 Liberal Democrats, two Labour members, two independents and one Green Party councillor.

LIST OF CANDIDATES

Martin Garfoot - Advance UK

Mike Jelfs - Green

Dee North - Reform UK

Lisa Jane Pendury-Hunt - Labour

Les Phillimore - Conservative

Ande Savage - Liberal Democrat

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Cramlington South West (Northumberland)

Reform will be looking to bat off any rivals in its upcoming contest in Cramlington South West, on Northumberland County Council.

The mid-term contest was triggered by the resignation of Cllr Shaun Knowles, who stepped down from his role on health ground amid a kidney cancer diagnosis.

Last year, Reform took home 39.4 per cent of the vote, with Labour coming second place with 28.8 per cent.

Meanwhile, the Tories secured 25.2 per cent of the vote.

LIST OF CANDIDATES

Bridget Anne Byrne - Reform UK

Nick Cott - Liberal Democrats

Dawn Furness - Independent

Neil David Graham - Conservatives

Alex Phimister - Greens

Lynne Robinson - Labour