Reform UK and Labour are set to clash in eight key regions today, with the Tories looking to hold onto wards despite a plummeting population.
It comes after a Reform UK councillor resigned after just two months in Bentley.
Rival Labour candidate Matt Jones started an online petition, accusing Reform UK of wasting taxpayers' money - beginning a fierce row.
Mr Jones said: "Three months of allowance is more than £3,500, and on top of the approximately £25k for this by-election, Reform UK are costing the people of Doncaster more than just wasted time.
He added: "How is this fair to the people of Bentley? He did not attend a single council meeting, and I am not aware that he held any surgeries for residents.
"I believe that if he has taken a basic allowance and not done a single thing to help the people of Bentley, either he or Reform UK should pay back this money."
The other seats up for grabs on Thursday are Labour-held, and both spurred by the deaths of their incumbent councillors.
The Council by-elections are taking place on August 21.
Reform UK and Labour are set to clash in eight key regions over the next few days
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Bentley
The by-election was triggered due to the Reform UK councillor Samuel Booth standing down after just two months in the role.
A spokesperson for the Doncaster Reform UK group said Booth had resigned for "personal reasons".
After winning the seat just months ago, Reform UK will be favourites to keep the seat.
Candidates:
Venessa Aradia - Green
Andy Hiles- Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition
Ahsan Jamil - Workers Party of Britain
Matthew Peter Jones - Labour
Christine Helen Lunney - Conservatives
Jane Nightingale - Independent
Isaiah-John Reasbeck - Reform UK
Giulia Savini - Giulia Sacani
Cranford
Reform UK are set to challenge this Labour stronghold following the death of Councillor Sukhbir Singh Dhaliwal.
Labour candidates at the local elections in 2022 polled over 60 per cent of the vote for all three seats, making it notionally the safest ward in the borough.
The Conservatives have come second in the ward, getting around 20-30 per cent of the vote.
A strong challenge from both the Greens and Reform UK is likely, as by-elections usually see a smaller proportion of the electorate turn out, meaning a relatively small number of votes can swing results.
Candidates:
Hira Singh Dhillon - Labour
Miruna Leitoiu - Liberal Democrats
Gurpreet Singh Sidhu - Conservative
Khushwant Singh - Reform UK
Gurpal Singh Virdi - Green
All candidates who are standing
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Abermaw
The Welsh seat is up for contention following the death of the late Councillor Rob Triggs, who died at the age of 59.
Mr Triggs had been a county councillor since 2022, and had also been a member of Abermaw Town Council for 13 years.
He stood as an independent MP and won the ward with 72 per cent of the vote.
Despite the large majority, just over 750 people voted, meaning the outcome of the byelection is hard to predict.
Candidates:
Wendy Lorraine Cleaver - Independent
Deana Davies Fisher - Independent
Chris Green - Pirate Party UK
Andrew Joyce - Liberal Democrats
Terry Temple - Reform UK
Hedd Vaughan Thomas - Conservative
Barrhead, Liboside and Uplawmoor by-election
The By-election in the Barrhead, Liboside and Uplawmoor ward follows the death of Councillor Betty Cunningham OBE.
The SNP won the ward off Labour in 2022 by 1.9 per cent of the vote.
Returning Officer Steven Quinn urged residents to vote, he said: "It's very important that all residents in the Barrhead, Liboside and Uplawmoor ward use their vote. The successful candidate elected as a Councillor will make decisions on behalf of residents about a wide range of services across East Renfrewshire including schools, roads and parks.
He added: "It's also important to be aware that it's a different voting system from last year's General Election and there will be clear guidance on this on the ballot paper and in voting booths on the day."
Council elections use the Single Transferable Vote (STV) system, which asks voters to mark their candidates in numerical order of preference, rather than using an X.
Candidates:
Farooq Choudhry - Conservatives
Julie Ann Costello McHale - Labour
Gus Ferguson - Abolish the Scottish Parliament Party
Andy MacGibbon - Reform UK
David McDonald - SNP
Karen Sharkey - Scottish Green Party
All wards in the byelection
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Alton Amery
Only three candidates are up for election on the East Hampshire District Council.
Candidates:
Brighton Gono - Conservatives
Lizzie Marshall - Liberal Democrats
Richard Dean Moore - Reform UK
Addlestone
Two seats on Runnymede Borough Council in the Addlestone South ward will be voted for following the death of John Furey and the resignation of Peter Snow.
Addlestone currently has no overall control.
The current composition is: 20 Conservative councillors, 8 Runnymede Independent Residents' Group/Englefield Green Independents, 6 Labour, Co-operative and Green Party Group, 4 Liberal Democrats, and 3 Independent Group councillors.
Candidates:
Scott Michael Kelly - Reform UK
Arran Richard Neathey - Labour and Co-operative Party
Steven Lee Ringham - Green
Shannon Saise-Marshall- Conservative
Mike Smith - Liberal Democrats
Addlestone South
Addlestone South is a ward within Runnymede Borough Council, and the current representation is the Conservatives.
Since its first election in 1973, Runnymede Borough Council has been under Conservative control, apart from a short period between 1996 and 1998 when it was under no overall control.
In the previous election in 2021, the Conservative Party retained control of the council, winning nine out of 13 seats and holding their majority.
Liberal Democrat, Labour and Green councillors are also present on the council.
Candidates:
Jenny Coulon - Liberal Democrats
Howard Alan Freeman - Conservative
Scott Michael Kelly - Reform UK
Mike Kusneraitis - Conservative
Ronan Stephen McCaughey - Liberal Democrats
Arran Richard Neathey - Labour and Co-operative Party
Sam Jonathan Newman - Reform
Elaine Percival - Labour and Co-operative Party
Izabela Wawryszuk - Green
Hinchley Wood, Claygate and Oxshott
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch and Tory party chairman Kevin Hollinrake have personally visited the area where a significant housing project is proposed on a local farm.
In what has been described as "one of the most expensive villages in England", plans to build 300 homes have caused outrage amongst some residents.
A large Reform Party bus has also been present as part of their campaigning.
The Liberal Democrat MP, Monica Harding, has been campaigning in Claygate too.
All three parties will be keen to secure the ward which the Conservatives currently control.
Candidates:
Andrew Burley - Conservative
Andy Burton - Liberal Democrats
Sarah Coomes - Green
Mary Susan Marshall - Independent
Irene Threlkeld - Labour
Nicholas David Wood - Reform UK
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