Council by-election results in full: Find out how Britons voted in dual showdown

George Bunn
Fri, 17 Apr 2026 10:48:31 +0000
Membership

A pair of by-elections took place in Leicestershire and Northumberland this week with Reform aiming to hold on to two key seats.

Voters went to the polls for the Narborough and Whetstone ward on Leicestershire County Council and for the Cramlington South West ward in Northumberland.

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

With the full local elections just 20 days away, GB News has taken a look at the results of both of these seats and what they mean for the parties...

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Narborough & Whetstone (Leicestershire)

Reform UK's Dee North won the contest in Leicestershire after her predecessor Andrew Thorp quit his post without giving a reason.

"It was a tough campaign but I'm grateful for the trust voters have put in me," she told the BBC.

Ms North won 1,033 votes to beat Conservative candidate Les Phillimore who got 927 votes, with Green candidate Mike Jelfs finishing third with 884 votes.

Liberal Democrat Ande Savage came in fourth on 134 votes, with Labour's Lisa Pendery-Hunt coming in fifth on 124 votes.

In last place was Martin Garfoot from Advance UK on 28 votes.

"This is the people's choice across Narborough, Littlethorpe and Whetstone", Ms North said.

She added: "Residents have voted for stronger representation on local issues and that is exactly what I will deliver.

"I'm grateful for the trust placed in me and from day one I will be a visible, accessible councillor."

Cramlington South West (Northumberland)

Meanwhile, Conservative candidate Neil Graham won the by-election in Cramlington South West, taking the ward off Nigel Farage's party.

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

Mr Graham won the contest for Kemi Badenoch's Conservatives gaining 278 votes, ahead of Reform's Bridget Anne Byrne on 212 votes.

Labour's Lynne Robinson finished in third on 187 votes with Green candidate Alex Phimister in fourth on 116 votes.

Independent candidate Dawn Furness got 13 votes with Liberal Democrat candidate Nick Cott receiving seven votes.