Labour's dwindling support across the country has been laid bare once again after the party lost ground in each of the seven council by-elections on Thursday, while Nigel Farage's Reform UK and Zack Polanski's Greens headed in the opposite direction.
By-elections were held in Cheshire East, Dumfries and Galloway, East Sussex, Redcar and Cleveland and Stratford-on-Avon.
Reform gained two of the seven by-elections, flipping two seats previously held by the Conservatives.
Kemi Badenoch's party managed to win two seats, taking the Hale ward in Trafford from the Greens and Stanraer and The Rhins which was previously held by an Independent.
However, Labour's woes continued this week.
The Greens romped to victory in the Macclesfield Central seat on Cheshire East Council with Sir Keir Starmer's party succumbing to a minus 25.7 point loss.
Labour managed to hold South Bank ward on Redcar and Cleveland council narrowly beating Reform, although finishing with a minus 17.8 point drop from the previous election.
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Macclesfield Central - Cheshire East
In the seat of Macclesfield Central, John Anthony Knight won for the Greens, taking the seat off Labour.
It marks the first seat for Zack Polanski's party on Cheshire East council.
The by-election was called following the resignation of Ashley Farrall days before he was jailed for attempting to pervert the course of justice.
He had been suspended by the party and had been sitting as an Independent before his arrest.
Mr Knight said: "I would like to say thank you for the trust the voters of Macclesfield Central have placed in me to represent them on Cheshire East Council. It’s taken a lot of work over a good many years. We came very close to winning the seat back in 2019."
Mr Polanski added: "Bring. On. May. Lots more of this. Right across England & Wales."
The party is currently run by a joint Labour/Independent administration, with the Conservatives on 34, Labour on 28, Independent Group on 13, Liberal Democrat on one; Green Party on one; Reform UK on one; Independent Socialist on one and the Independent non-grouped on three.
At last year's General Election, Tim Roca made history becoming the Cheshire town's first ever Labour MP at Westminister, beating incumbent Conservative MP David Rutley, who had held the seat since 2010, with a majority of 9,120.
Full results:
- Green: 41.8 per cent (+19.7)
- Labour: 28.6 per cent (-25.7)
- Reform: 15.8 per cent (New)
- Conservative and Unionist Party: 9.1 per cent (-4.5)
- Equality Party: 2.5 per cent (New)
- Liberal Democrats: 2.2 per cent (-7.7)
John Anthony Knight with party leader Zack Polanski
|CHESHIRE GREEN PARTY
Stanraer and The Rhins - Dumfries and Galloway
In what could be seen as a win for the Conservatives, Julie Currie won the seat.
However, the party saw a minus 7.4 point drop from the previous election.
Reform won 34.4 per cent of the vote with first preferences, however, it was not enough for the party to win the seat under the Scottish voting system.
Full results:
- Reform: 34.4 per cent (New)
- Conservative and Unionist Party: 33.5 per cent (-7.4)
- SNP: 13.9 per cent (-9.1)
- Labour Party: 6.1 per cent (-3.7)
- Independent: 5.3 per cent (New)
- Green Party: 3.6 per cent (+1.1)
- Liberal Democrats: 2.5 per cent (New)
- Heritage Party: 0.7 per cent (New)
Julie Currie won the seat for Russel Findlay's Scottish Conservatives
|FINLAY CARSON MSP
Ashdown and Conquest - East Sussex
Reform UK's Aidan Fisher emerged victorious taking the Ashdown and Conquest ward on East Sussex Council, seeing off competition from the Greens and the Tories.
The by-election was called after the death of Conservative Veteran councillor, Peter Pragnell.
A spokesman from the Hastings branch of Reform said: "A stronger voice for Hastings & Rye, putting our priorities first. A commitment to accountable, transparent local representation.
"A renewed focus on our community: local jobs, strong public services, safer streets and fiscal responsibility.
"We are proud and motivated, and we now turn our attention to delivering on our promises. Let’s keep building. Let’s keep standing up for our community."
The council remains run by a Conservative minority administration with 22 councillors, with the Liberal Democrats on 12 councillors, and five Labour and Green councillors respectively.
At Westminster, the ward is based in the Hastings and Rye constituency, once held by former Conservative Home Secretary Amber Rudd.
Labour's Helena Dollimore won the seat at last year's General Election, beating Conservative incumbent Sally-Ann Hart with a majority of 8,653.
FULL RESULTS:
- Reform: 32.2 per cent (New)
- Green Party: 24.5 per cent (+16.4)
- Conservative and Unionist Party: 13.9 per cent (-9.1)
- Labour: 15.9 per cent (-7.4)
- Liberal Democrat: 5.2 per cent (-3.5) I
- Independent: 2.2 per cent (New)
Reform UK's Aidan Fisher won the seat
|REFORM UK
South Bank (Redcar & Cleveland)
In a nail-biting clash in the North East, Labour managed to hold on in the South Bank ward on Redcar & Cleveland council, with a majority of just 24 votes against Reform UK.
Labour's Sue Jeffrey saw of competition from Reform's Adam Jones to win the seat.
She told TeessideLive: "I’m just really glad that the people of South Bank have put their trust in me again and I hope I’ll do a good job for them."
The council has been under no overall control since 2013. Following the 2023 whole council election, a minority Labour administration took control of the council.
Labour's Anna Turley has represented the corresponding Redcar constituency since last year's General Election, with the former Chair of the Party regaining her seat from the Conservative incumbent Jacob Young with a majority of 3,323.
FULL RESULTS
- Labour : 47.4 per cent (-17.8)
- Reform: 44.3 per cent (New)
- Conservative: 8.2 per cent (-4.3)
Labour's Sue Jeffrey won the seat on Redcar & Cleveland Council
REDCAR LABOUR
Quinton (Stratford-on-Avon)
The first of a double-bill on Stratford-on-Avon Council, as Sir Ed Davey's Liberal Democrats managed to hold on in the Quinton ward despite competition from Reform UK.
Paul Harrison from the Lib Dems came out on top, beating Reform's Sean Edmunds on a majority of 131.
At last year's General Election, the corresponding Stratford-upon-Avon seat, once held by former Tory Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi, was won for the first time ever by the Liberal Democrats, as Manuela Perteghella beat Conservative candidate Chris Clarkson with a majority of 7,122.
FULL RESULTS:
- Liberal Democrat: 47.3 per cent (+3.5)
- Reform UK: 33.1 per cent (New)
- Conservative: 14.8 per cent(-26.2)
- Green Party: 3.8 per (-4.7)
- Labour: One per cent (-5.7)
Ashley Jones with party leader Nigel Farage | REFORM UKSalford Priors & Alcester Rural (Stratford-on-Avon)
It was better news for Nigel Farage's party just up the road, as Reform's Ashley Jones beat Huw Lewis from the Liberal Democrats with a majority of just three votes to gain the seat from the Tories.
The result doubles the number of Reform councillors, the other being Sarah Whalley-Hoggins who quit as Conservative group leader to join Reform UK.
Overall the results make no difference to who holds the power at the Warwickshire Council as the Lib Dems have 25 of the 41 seats.
FULL RESULTS:
- Reform UK: 33.3% (New)
- Liberal Democrat: 32.9 per cent (+9.7)
- Conservative: 27.8 per cent (-29.1)
- Green Party: 3.8 per cent(-5.3)
- Labour: 2.2 per cent (-8.6)
Conservative Natalie Shalom (c) emerged victorious | TRAFFORD CONSERVATIVESHale (Trafford)
Lastly, it was good news for Kemi Badenoch's party in Greater Manchester, as the Tories gained a seat off the Green Party in Trafford in the Hale ward.
Conservative Natalie Shalom beat Orla Weir of the Greens with a majority of 276.
Ms Shalom told the Manchester Evening News: "All I want to do is represent Hale on the local issues, because that is what the residents want, and I am honoured that they have given me this opportunity. I am going to work so hard for them."
The result leaves Labour in overall control of the council with 41 councillors. The Conservatives have 10, the Liberal Democrats have seven and the Greens have five.
At Westminster, Labour's Connor Rand won the corresponding Altrincham and Sale West seat once held by former Chair of the 1922 Committee Sir Graham Brady, beating Conservative Oliver Carroll with a majority of 4,174.
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