A bumper set of 10 local by-elections are taking place across the country today as a series of tight electoral battles will provide tests for all the major party leaders.
There are four Liberal Democrat defences, two Labour defences, one defence each of the SNP, Greens, Conservatives and a local party.
All the major parties will be looking to gain post-conference wins, with Reform UK surging in the polls and Labour faltering.
GB News has taken a look at the seats up for grabs this week and picked apart who could come out on top.
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Copdock & Washbrook (Babergh)
Veteran Liberal Democrat councillor Dave Busby died in August
First up, we're off to Suffolk and a battle on Babergh Council in the Copdock & Washbrook ward.
The by-election was called after the death of veteran Liberal Democrat councillor Dave Busby.
Babergh District Council leader Councillor John Ward said: "Dave made an invaluable contribution to this council. He served his community and our district with distinction to the very end.
"He will be a huge loss to our council and his presence, wit and humour will be very much missed."
The council is currently run by a coalition of the Greens, independents and Liberal Democrats.
On a parliamentary level, the council forms the area around the South Suffolk constituency, represented by Shadow Defence Secretary James Cartlidge.
At last year's General Election, Mr Cartlidge held onto his seat with a decreased vote share of 33 per cent and a decreased majority of 3,047.
The parishes of Bentley, Burstall, Chattisham, Copdock & Washbrook, Hintlesham, Wenham Magna and Wenham Parva are included in the by election.
THE FULL LIST OF CANDIDATES STANDING IN COPDOCK & WASHBROOK:
- Miriam Burns - Green Party
- Harry Graham Cansdale - Conservative
- Mark John-Harry Hurley - Liberal Democrats
- Marc Peter Rowland - Reform UK
- Simon Whitney - Labour
Ashton (Preston)
Preston City Council HQ
|PA
Up to Lancashire next, with a by-election happening in the Ashton ward on Preston City Council.
It follows the resignation of Labour’s Robert Boswell last month, which created a vacancy in the three-member patch in the west of the city centre.
The city council has been controlled by Labour consistently since 2011.
On a parliamentary level, Sir Mark Hendrick won the Preston constituency he has represented since 2000, with a much-reduced majority of 5,291 over pro-Palestine independent candidate Michael Lavalette.
THE FULL LIST OF CANDIDATES STANDING IN ASHTON:
- Aran John Bailey - Independent
- Kevin Brockbank - Conservative
- Ann Cowell - Independent
- Ronan Hodgson - Liberal Democrat
- Mark Routledge - Labour
- Lee Slater - Reform UK
Meadvale & St John's (Reigate & Banstead)
The Liberal Democrats are defending a seat on Reigate & Banstead council
|WIKICOMMONS
In Surrey, the Liberal Democrats are defending a seat in the Meadvale & St John's ward on Reigate & Banstead Council.
Following local elections last year, the council remained under no overall control, with the Conservatives holding the most seats on the council.
At Westminster, the seat is represented by Tory MP Rebecca Paul, who won the seat of Reigate with a majority of 3,187.
THE CANDIDATES STANDING IN THE MEADVALE & ST JOHN'S WARD BY-ELECTION ARE:
- Will De Save - Conservative
- Marcus Harriott - Reform UK
- Mark Johnston - Liberal Democrat
- Natasha Lawrence - Green Party
- Jonathan White - Independent
Ayr North (South Ayrshire)
Independent councillor Mark Dixon died in July
|SOUTH AYRSHIRE COUNCIL
Heading north of the border now, with the Scottish National Party looking to capitalise from their recent conference with a defence of Ayr North on South Ayrshire Council.
The by-election was called after the death of independent councillor Mark Dixon, who was initially elected as an SNP councillor in 2022.
SNP group leader, Julie Dettbarn, paid tribute to the late Councillor Dixon, calling him a "deeply intelligent" and "good-hearted" man.
South Ayrshire Council has been under no overall control since 2003, with the Conservatives on six councillors and Labour and SNP both on five.
At Westminster, the ward straddles the constituencies of Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock and Central Ayrshire, represented by Labour's Elaine Stewart and Alan Gemmell respectively.
THE FULL LIST OF CANDIDATES STANDING IN AYR NORTH:
- Orhan Bulikj - Independent
- Ian Douglas - SNP
- John Duncan - Labour
- Mason Graham - Liberal Democrats
- Wullie Hogg - Independent
- David Paterson - Conservative
- Davie Petrie - Independent
- Andrew Russell - Reform UK
Staines (Spelthorne)
Staines is the spot for the showdown with the Greens hoping to keep the seat
|WIKICOMMONS
Sticking with the south now, we're down in Staines where Zack Polanski's Green Party look to defend a key battleground ward on Spelthorne Council.
This by-election was called after councillor Adam Gale unexpectedly resigned from his seat.
The council has been under no overall control since 2020, with the Conservatives as the majority party with 15 councillors, followed by the Liberal Democrats on 10.
On a parliamentary level, the seat is represented by Conservative MP Lincoln Jopp, who held on to the seat once held by Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng, with a 1,590 majority.
THE FULL LIST OF CANDIDATES STANDING IN STAINES:
- Laura Barker - Liberal Democrats
- Paul Couchman - Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition
- Mark Francis - Conservative
- Sam Freeman - Independent
- Jared Kidd - Labour
- Harry Phillips - Reform UK
- Stuart Whitmore - Green Party
Camberley West (Surrey)
Conservative Councillor David Lewis died in August
|Surrey Heath Borough Council
Just over the road, Camberley contests one of three by-elections to Surrey County Council.
In Camberley West, a by-election will be held after the death of Tory Councillor David Lewis in August.
A spokesman for Surrey Heath’s Conservative Association said: "Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with his family at this deeply difficult time.
“He gave many years of distinguished service to his community and to the Conservative cause, always with humility, thoughtfulness, and integrity. His loss will be deeply felt by all who knew him."
The Conservatives could regain control of the much-needed council if it wins at least two of the by-elections held this week, after defeats to both Reform UK and the Liberal Democrats meant Kemi Badenoch's party lost control.
As part of the Surrey Heath seat, which was formerly held by Michael Gove, the ward's MP is Al Pinkerton, the Liberal Democrat spokesman for Northern Ireland.
THE FULL LIST OF CANDIDATES STANDING IN CAMBERLEY WEST:
- Alan Robert Ashbury - Liberal Democrats
- Attieh Fard - Conservatives
- Darryl Kishand Ratiram - Reform UK
- Simon Schofield - Labour
Caterham Valley (Surrey)
On the other end of the county in Caterham Valley, there will be a by-election after long-standing Liberal Democrat councillor Jeffrey Gray announced his retirement.
Explaining his decision, Mr Gray had originally planned to step down after county council elections in May this year.
However, when those were postponed, he decided "there was never going to be a good time" and chose to retire now, reports SurreyLive.
At Westminster, Shadow Minister for Women Claire Coutinho retained the Surrey East she first won in 2019 with a reduced majority of 7,450.
THE FULL LIST OF CANDIDATES STANDING IN CATERHAM VALLEY:
- Leo Domingues - Green Party
- Richard John Mark - Conservatives
- Tony Pearce - Liberal Democrat
- Peter Roy Andrew Gerard Roberts - Caterham Residents
- Jacqueline Rosemarie Thomson - Reform UK
- Jon Wheale - Labour Party
Guildford South East (Surrey)
Guildford South East will be having a by election after Residents for Guildford and Villages (R4GV) Fiona Davidson resigned from her role.
She told reporters her resignation was a "very difficult decision" made for "personal reasons."
Liberal Democrat Zöe Franklin won the seat back for the Liberal Democrats for the first time since 2001, beating incumbent Conservative MP Angela Richardson with a majority of 8,429.
THE FULL LIST OF CANDIDATES STANDING IN GUILDFORD SOUTH EAST:
- Richard Eggleton - Labour
- Alex Fiuza - Conservatives
- Catherine Susan Houston - Liberal Democrats
- Dale Layman - Reform UK
- John Willem Edwin Redpath - Residents for Guildford and Villages
- Claire Whitehouse - Green Party
Whyteleafe (Tandridge)
Jeffrey Gray, who represented Caterham Valley on Surrey County Council, also represented Whyteleafe on Tandridge Council.
THE FULL LIST OF CANDIDATES STANDING IN WHYTELEAFE:
- Hoong-Wai Cheah - Conservatives
- Leo Domingues - Green Party
- James Douglas Milmine - Reform UK
- Tony Pearce - Liberal Democrats
- Jon Wheal - Reform UK
Broadheath (Trafford)
Labour councillor Denise Western died in August
|TRAFFORD LABOUR
Finally, in Greater Manchester, there will be a by-election in Broadheath on Trafford Borough Council, after the death of Labour councillor, Denise Western.
Councillor Western, the mother of Stretford & Urmston Labour MP Andrew Western, was first elected as a local councillor for the ward in 2012.
Paying tribute, council leader and Labour colleague Tom Ross said: "Denise worked for the NHS until her recent retirement. She was mother to five children and she also had five grandchildren.
"Denise held many roles during her time as a local councillor and was a much-valued friend and mentor to many councillor colleagues at Trafford."
The council has been under Labour majority control since 2019.
In parliament, the ward falls into the Altrincham and Sale West constituency that was once held by former 1922 Committee chairman, Sir Graham Brady.
However, it is currently held by Connor Rand, who became the first ever Labour MP for the constituency by beating Tory candidate Oliver Carroll by more than 4,000 votes last July.
THE FULL LIST OF CANDIDATES STANDING IN BROADHEATH:
- Louise Claire Bird - Liberal Democrats
- Kaushik Chakraborty - Conservatives
- Stephen John Farndon - Independent
- Mahvish Masood - Labour Party
- Deborah Rhodes - Reform UK
- Alexander Philip Young - Green Party
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