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PoliticsUK council by-elections: Conservatives gain seats from Labour and Reform UK
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The article reports results from several UK council by-elections held on July 17, 2026. The Conservatives gained a seat from Labour in Breckland (Dereham Toftwood) and a seat from Reform UK in Norfolk (Old Catton). The Green Party gained a seat from Labour in Peterborough (Fletton & Woodston). Other results include Reform UK holding a seat in Cambridgeshire (Ramsey & Bury), the Liberal Democrats holding Cherwell (Kidlington West), Labour holding Rushmoor (Wellington) and Stafford (Manor), and the Conservatives holding South Staffordshire (Himley & Swinton). The article also lists forthcoming by-election contests scheduled from July 23 to September 3, 2026, across various UK councils, including wards currently held by Conservatives, Reform UK, Labour, Liberal Democrats, Plaid Cymru, and independents.
Source report
Breckland – Dereham Toftwood
- Conservatives: 458 (45.8%, -1.7 on 2023)
- Reform UK: 369 (36.9%, +36.9)
- Labour: 172 (17.2%, -35.3)
Result: Conservatives gain from Labour
Cambridgeshire – Ramsey & Bury
- Reform UK: 506 (29.7%, -17.2 on 2025)
- Independent: 417 (24.5%, +24.5)
- Conservatives: 412 (24.2%, -5.2)
- Lib Dems: 126 (7.4%, +0.7)
- Green Party: 123 (7.2%, +1.2)
- Labour: 118 (6.9%, -4.0)
Result: Reform UK hold
Cherwell – Kidlington West
- Lib Dems: 1,028 (58.8%, +13.7 on May)
- Reform UK: 331 (18.9%, -4.3)
- Conservatives: 232 (13.3%, -4.0)
- Green Party: 158 (9.0%, -5.4)
Result: Lib Dems hold
Norfolk – Old Catton
- Conservatives: 973 (34.6%, +8.5 on May)
- Green Party: 921 (32.7%, +14.0)
- Reform UK: 561 (19.9%, -10.1)
- Labour: 147 (5.2%, -10.6)
- Lib Dems: 100 (3.6%, -5.6)
- Restore: 98 (3.5%, +3.5)
- Monster Raving Loony Party: 13 (0.5%, +0.5)
Result: Conservatives gain from Reform UK
Peterborough – Fletton & Woodston
- Green Party: 664 (41.2%, +3.3 on May)
- Reform UK: 479 (29.7%, +2.9)
- Labour: 213 (13.2%, +3.7)
- Conservatives: 208 (12.9%, -3.2)
- Lib Dems: 37 (2.3%, +2.3)
- Your Party: 11 (0.7%, +0.7)
Result: Green Party gain from Labour
Rushmoor – Wellington
- Labour: 408 (42.1%, +8.8 on May)
- Conservatives: 119 (20.5%, -3.0)
- Reform UK: 196 (20.2%, -7.5)
- Green Party: 118 (12.2%, +12.2)
- Lib Dems: 49 (5.1%, +5.1)
Result: Labour hold
South Staffordshire – Himley & Swinton
- Conservatives: 298 (43.2%, -21.0 on 2023)
- Reform UK: 187 (27.1%, +27.1)
- Independent: 129 (18.7%, +18.7)
- Labour: 28 (4.1%, +4.1)
- Green Party: 22 (3.2%, +3.2)
- Independent: 16 (2.3%, -12.0)
- Lib Dems: 10 (1.4%, -20.0)
Result: Conservatives hold
Stafford – Manor
- Labour: 481 (36.2%, -19.6 on 2023)
- Reform UK: 414 (31.2%, +31.2)
- Conservatives: 237 (17.8%, -11.6)
- Green Party: 297 (14.8%, -0.0)
Result: Labour hold
Forthcoming Contests
July 23rd
- East Devon – Exmouth Brixington (Conservative held)
- Medway – Cuxton, Halling & Riverside (Conservative held)
- South Gloucestershire – Longwell Green (Conservative held)
- Thurrock – Grays Riverside (Reform UK held)
- Thurrock – Grays Town (Reform UK held)
July 30th
- Bolton – Rumworth (Labour held)
- Eastleigh – Hedge End South (Lib Dem held)
- Isle of Anglesey – Bro'r Llynnoedd (Plaid Cymru held)
- South Holland – Long Sutton (Independent held)
- Uttlesford – Great Dunmow North (Residents 4 Uttlesford held)
August 6th
- Caerphilly – Hengoed (Plaid Cymru held)
- King's Lynn & West Norfolk – Heacham (Conservative held)
- King's Lynn & West Norfolk – Snettisham (Conservative held)
- Reigate – Hooley, Merstham & Netherne (Conservative held)
- South Tyneside – Harton (Reform UK held)
August 13th
- East Devon – Honiton St Michael's (Labour held)
- Kirklees – Almondbury (Reform UK held)
September 3rd
(No contests listed)
Source
Conservative HomeWestern
Part of this Story
UK Council By-Elections: Lib Dems and Reform UK Gain Seats from Conservatives