Reform faces super six election test TOMORROW as key defending seat on knife edge over tax hike fears

Caerphilly by-election was 'two horse race' says Reform's David Bull |

GB NEWS

Isabelle Parkin

By Isabelle Parkin


Published: 29/10/2025

- 14:06

Updated: 29/10/2025

- 14:07

The party will battle it out against candidates in six by-elections this week

Reform UK is heading into a fresh round of by-elections on Thursday - including a battle to defend one of its own seats.

Nigel Farage's party will have six chances for success as voters head to the polls.


One notable key test will take place in Worcestershire, where the party will look to keep hold of its seat in Bromsgrove South.

Nigel Farage will be quietly confident heading into tomorrow's elections as new polling has Reform storming ahead at the national level.

A new YouGov poll for Sky News shows 27 per cent of people would vote for the party if there were a general election tomorrow, while both Labour and the Conservatives are trailing behind on 17 per cent.

The Greens are meanwhile snapping at their heels on 16 per cent and the Liberal Democrats on 15 per cent.

Nigel Farage (middle)Reform faces super six election test TOMORROW as key defending seat on knife edge over tax hike fears |

Getty Images

Where are the by-elections being held?

St John's ward, Tunbridge Wells

A by-election is being held in the St John's ward in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, after Lib Dem Councillor, Matthew Fox, resigned due to "personal reasons".

Reform has put forward candidate Chris Hoare to run for the seat.

The full list of candidates are:

  • Joe Dore - Independent
  • Kit Hawes-Webb - Tunbridge Wells Alliance
  • Chris Hoare - Reform
  • Ukonu Elisha Obasi - Lib Dem
  • Kate Sergeant - Green Party
  • David Sumner - Conservative

Bromsgrove South, Worcestershire 

Reform will be looking to keep hold of its seat in the Bromsgrove South division, Worcestershire.

A by-election was sparked following the resignation of Reform councillor Gaynor Jean-Louis, who was elected earlier this year.

The marginal seat is expected to be a close call amid growing backlash over a 10 per cent tax hike Reform-controlled Worcestershire County Council is currently consulting residents on.

Opposition councillors have raised concerns over the proposals, accusing the Reform-led authority of trying to justify “cutting services to the bone”.

However, the document also notes that the council faces “significant financial pressure”, with plans for extensive cutbacks and a request to the government for £43 million in Exceptional Financial Support to balance its budget.

Hoping to see success for the party in this week's by-election is candidate Philip Hingley.

The remaining candidates are:

  • Sam Ammar - Lib Dem
  • Matt Dormer - Conservative
  • Laura Maeve Rollins - Labour
PHILIP HINGLEY

Reform's Philip Hingley is hoping to see success in the Bromsgrove South by-election

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FACEBOOK/PHILIP HINGLEY

Hendon ward, Barnet 

A by-election was triggered in the Hendon ward in Barnet, north London, after Conservative Councillor Joshua Conway was disqualified.

Barnet Council said Mr Conway, who is headteacher at the local Nancy Reuben Primary School, had been disqualified because of a "change of status in his employment".

"By law, a person is disqualified from being a member of a local authority if they are employed in a school that is maintained by the local authority," it said.

In a post to X last month, Mr Conway wrote: "Friends, I want to share some news with you.

"Because Nancy Reuben Primary School has now become a voluntary aided state school, I am – under an outdated law – disqualified from continuing as a councillor in Barnet Council."

Standing for Reform is Yosef David, who has pledged to "work with optimism" if elected.

He said in a video posted to social media: "You can rely on me to ensure that the bins are picked up on time, that there is zero-tolerance policing and they will fill the potholes.

"But more than that - we are going to work with optimism."

"How about some positivity for our area for once," he added.

The full list of candidates are:

  • Yosef David - Reform
  • Gabrielle Louise Bailey - Greens
  • Lewis George Harrison - Labour
  • Shimon Ryde - Conservatives
  • Jeremy Walsh - Lib Dem
  • Ben Rend - Rejoin EU
Yosef David

Yosef David is standing for Reform in the Hendon ward by-election

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FACEBOOK/REFORM UK BARNET

Thanet District, Kent

A by-election will be held in the Garlinge ward in the Thanet District, Kent, following the resignation of independent councillor, John Worrow, in September.

Looking to turn the seat turquoise is Reform candidate, Darren Oxborrow.

The remaining candidates are:

  • Kerry Boyd - Conservative
  • Matthew David Brown - Lib Dems
  • Ian Driver - Independent
  • Bryan John Harrod - Labour
  • Deb Shotton - Green
LINDEN KEMKARAN AND DARREN OXBORROW

Darren Oxborrow is standing for Reform in the Garlinge ward

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FACEBOOK/LINDEN KEMKARAN

Roebuck ward, Stevenage

Reform will look to take a council seat from Labour in the Roebuck ward, Stevenage.

A by-election was called following the resignation of Labour councillor, Anne Wells.

Ex-police officer Rob Henry, is standing for Reform.

The party's Stevenage branch said Mr Henry, who has lived in Stevenage since 1991, is "keen to use his experience" working in the public sector to "ensure council tax payers' money is spent wisely".

The full list of candidates are:

  • Rob Henry - Reform
  • Nigel Robert Bye - Lib Dem
  • Pawel Gora - Conservative
  • Thea Pendlebury - Labour
  • Glen Rozemont - Greens

Stirling, Scotland

Reform candidates Scotland

William Docherty is standing for Reform in the Stirling East by-election

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FACEBOOK/REFORM UK SCOTLAND

Reform will be looking to fill another Tory seat in the Stirling East ward in Stirling, Scotland.

The party's candidate, William Docherty, is hoping to see success in the polls.

The full list of candidates are:

  • William Docherty - Reform
  • James Corbett - Conservative
  • Yvonne Dickson - Labour
  • Josh Martin Fyvie - Scottish National Party (SNP)
  • William Galloway - Lib Dem
  • Marie Stadtler - Scottish Green Party

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