2022-23 local government by-elections

[Merseymike]

May 25, 2022 14:45:31 GMT southernliberal said:

May 25, 2022 14:31:16 GMT Merseymike said:

I would have thought Labour voters may be understandably irritated by this development. Why is he resigning? Does he simply not want to be a councillor?
It's the second example but at least not in a safe seat this time. Not that is any sort of excuse.

He was a paper candidate, they were expecting the Conservatives to win both seats in the ward, but only the Conservative incumbent won, the other Conservative candidate fell short. 

Paper candidates can only be stood if there is really no chance at all of election. It's always a risk otherwise. I recall a friend who did 4 years as a Labour county councillor in Bucks - she decided not to defend her seat and wouldn't stand anywhere else because she just wasn't prepared to take any risk. And there are certainly seats in Bucks where Labour could never be elected!

[notabrummie]

"South Staffordshire, Penkridge North East & Acton Trussell. Isabel Ford (Conservative) has ceased to be a councillor."
.
Sadly she has died.
Penkridge Parish Council have posted the vacancy for her seat but nothing for the district seat as yet.

[carolus]

Chesterfield, Hollingwood & Inkersall. Mick Bagshaw (Independent) has ceased to be a councillor.

West Sussex, Worthing West. Beccy Cooper (Labour) has ceased to be a councillor. I assume this is related to the fact she has just become leader of Worthing DC.

[kevinf]

May 25, 2022 18:24:53 GMT carolus said:

Chesterfield, Hollingwood & Inkersall. Mick Bagshaw (Independent) has ceased to be a councillor.

West Sussex, Worthing West. Beccy Cooper (Labour) has ceased to be a councillor. I assume this is related to the fact she has just become leader of Worthing DC.

Re:Worthing. Err..no, you have to be a Councillor to be Leader…

[Chris from Brum]

May 25, 2022 21:21:51 GMT kevinf said:

May 25, 2022 18:24:53 GMT carolus said:

Chesterfield, Hollingwood & Inkersall. Mick Bagshaw (Independent) has ceased to be a councillor.

West Sussex, Worthing West. Beccy Cooper (Labour) has ceased to be a councillor. I assume this is related to the fact she has just become leader of Worthing DC.

Re:Worthing. Err..no, you have to be a Councillor to be Leader…

I think the implication is that she has stood down from the county council, not the district council.

[timmullen1]

May 25, 2022 21:21:51 GMT kevinf said:

May 25, 2022 18:24:53 GMT carolus said:

Chesterfield, Hollingwood & Inkersall. Mick Bagshaw (Independent) has ceased to be a councillor.

West Sussex, Worthing West. Beccy Cooper (Labour) has ceased to be a councillor. I assume this is related to the fact she has just become leader of Worthing DC.

Re:Worthing. Err..no, you have to be a Councillor to be Leader…

I interpreted carolus comment as she’s stood down from the County Council to focus on her role as Leader of the District Council. FWIW Labour do have a rule, that they will waive usually in weaker areas, that prohibit dual councillors.

[batman]

May 25, 2022 21:24:34 GMT Chris from Brum said:

May 25, 2022 21:21:51 GMT kevinf said:

Re:Worthing. Err..no, you have to be a Councillor to be Leader…

I think the implication is that she has stood down from the county council, not the district council.

you are definitely correct. She has stood down from the county council, certainly not from the borough council.

[andrewp]

May 25, 2022 21:27:29 GMT timmullen1 said:

May 25, 2022 21:21:51 GMT kevinf said:

Re:Worthing. Err..no, you have to be a Councillor to be Leader…

I interpreted carolus comment as she’s stood down from the County Council to focus on her role as Leader of the District Council. FWIW Labour do have a rule, that they will waive usually in weaker areas, that prohibit dual councillors.

I didn’t know they had that rule. The 2 most prominent Labour councillors in Somerset ( fitting your definition of a weaker area) are double ( and including the town council, triple) hatters, and have been for a decade. Obviously won’t be a problem after 2023, 

[Pete Whitehead]

May 25, 2022 21:27:29 GMT timmullen1 said:

May 25, 2022 21:21:51 GMT kevinf said:

Re:Worthing. Err..no, you have to be a Councillor to be Leader…

I interpreted carolus comment as she’s stood down from the County Council to focus on her role as Leader of the District Council. FWIW Labour do have a rule, that they will waive usually in weaker areas, that prohibit dual councillors.

It isn't much of a rule - all bar one of Labour's county councillors in Hertfordshire also sit on their local district council.

[kevinf]

May 25, 2022 21:33:59 GMT andrewp said:

May 25, 2022 21:27:29 GMT timmullen1 said:

I interpreted carolus comment as she’s stood down from the County Council to focus on her role as Leader of the District Council. FWIW Labour do have a rule, that they will waive usually in weaker areas, that prohibit dual councillors.

I didn’t know they had that rule. The 2 most prominent Labour councillors in Somerset ( fitting your definition of a weaker area) are double ( and including the town council, triple) hatters, and have been for a decade. Obviously won’t be a problem after 2023, 

Apologies carolus, misread the Council you mentioned.

[timmullen1]

May 25, 2022 21:33:59 GMT andrewp said:

May 25, 2022 21:27:29 GMT timmullen1 said:

I interpreted carolus comment as she’s stood down from the County Council to focus on her role as Leader of the District Council. FWIW Labour do have a rule, that they will waive usually in weaker areas, that prohibit dual councillors.

I didn’t know they had that rule. The 2 most prominent Labour councillors in Somerset ( fitting your definition of a weaker area) are double ( and including the town council, triple) hatters, and have been for a decade. Obviously won’t be a problem after 2023, 

One of my original Ward councillors when I joined was a double hatter and he got an exemption when the rule was introduced as it was everybody’s last term on Staffordshire County Council before the City Council became a unitary authority, but I had to do a report along those lines for an NEC panel as somebody had formally complained about his dual role. I actually have no idea whether that rule’s still in place, but I’d be surprised if it had been abolished.

[timmullen1]

May 25, 2022 21:37:15 GMT Pete Whitehead said:

May 25, 2022 21:27:29 GMT timmullen1 said:

I interpreted carolus comment as she’s stood down from the County Council to focus on her role as Leader of the District Council. FWIW Labour do have a rule, that they will waive usually in weaker areas, that prohibit dual councillors.

It isn't much of a rule - all bar one of Labour's county councillors in Hertfordshire also sit on their local district council.

I think it’s a rule that’s loosely interpreted, and can depend a bit on the Regional Office who enforce it; I think Charlotte Atkins is on both Staffordshire Moorlands District and Staffordshire County Councils, but a friend was told at the previous round of County elections prior to last year that if she stood successfully for Lancashire County Council she would have to resign from Rossendale District/Borough (I’m not sure which it actually is).

[East Anglian Lefty]

Reasonably sure it's not in the rulebook, nor has it been for some years. There are certainly areas where there's a taboo against it, but these days they're much more the exception than the rule.

[jamesdoyle]

I think it's probably a good idea in this case:
1) I think she's got a lot of work ahead of her - not just getting a new program under way, but disentangling the mess left by the previous administration, as well as an ingrained culture at senior officer level that will need redirecting; plus, given the degree to which Worthing and Adur have a merged programme, she's going to have to fight the Adur Cons all the way.
2) The West Sussex Labour group isn't huge, so she'd not be able to get much done there.
3) The seat should be a fairly safe hold for Labour, so there's no risk there.

The only potential danger I can see is that the Worthing Labour county councillors - 5, I think - might end up with divergent views from the borough group; and it might be a power base for someone to develop to challenge her if things don't go to plan. But it's a real reach to come up with that.

[carolus]

Welwyn Hatfield, Hatfield Central (2023). Glyn Hayes (Labour) has ceased to be a councillor.

[carolus]

Warwickshire, Arden. John Horner (Conservative) died on 13 May. www.warwickshire.gov.uk/news/article/2920/deepest-sympathies-expressed-following-the-death-of-cllr-john-horner

A previously missed vacancy: Cumbria, Dearham & Broughton. Hugo Graham (Conservative) resigned on 3 May. This one has had a notice of vacancy published and so presumably will happen, unlike the other Cumbria vacancy which was claimed would not be filled. I'm utterly baffled by these Cumbria/North Yorks/Somerset vacancies.

[carolus]

9 June:
Breckland, Mattishall. Ian Martin (Conservative) has resigned due to ill-health.
Crawley, Southgate (2023). Mike Pickett (Labour) has ceased to be a councillor due to "prolonged ill health".
Sevenoaks, Penshurst, Fordcombe & Chiddingstone. Susan Coleman (Conservative) has resigned as a councillor on 4 April.

16 June:
Rother, Brede & Udimore. Jonathan Johnson (Conservative) died on 23rd March.
Sunderland, Copt Hill (2022). Countermanded due to death of the UKIP candidate.
Warwick, Leamington Clarendon. Cause: Death of Jonathan Nicholls (Lab) on 14 March 2022.
Wyre Forest, Franche & Habberley North. Anna l'Huillier Independent Community & Health

23 June:
Harlow, Bush Fair (2026). Marco Lorenzini (Con) has resigned after five days due to racist tweets.
Kingston, New Malden Village (3). Countermanded Poll due to the death of Mary Clark (No Description)
Neath Port Talbot, Port Talbot (2022). Countermanded following death of Independent candidate.
Shropshire, Highley. Dave Tremellen (Independent) has resigned on 22 April.
Waverley, Hindhead. Death of Peter Isherwood (Con) on 4 April.

30 June:
Buckinghamshire, Bernwood. Cameron Branston has ceased to be a councillor.
Croydon, South Croydon. Jason Perry (Con) unable to take his seat due to also being elected Mayor.
East Riding of Yorkshire, Bridlington North. Chad Chadwick (Conservative) has ceased to be a councillor.
Eilean Siar - Barraigh agus Bhatarsaigh - 1 councillor nominated for 2 seats.
Eilean Siar - Sgìr’ Ùige agus Carlabhagh - 1 councillor nominated for 2 seats.
Liverpool, Fazarkley. Lyndsay Melia (Labour) resigned on 30 March.
Middlesbrough, Berwick Hills & Pallister. Lee Garvey (Independent) has resigned as a councillor.

Newark & Sherwood, Ollerton. Neal Mitchell (Labour) resigned as a councillor on 9 May.

Wyre, Cleveleys Park. Cause: Death of Rita Amos (C) on 3 March 2022.

7 July:
Mole Valley, Charlwood (2023). Charles Yarwood (Conservative) has ceased to be a councillor.

Known vacancies:
Breckland, Thetford Boudica. Mark Robinson (Con) has resigned as a councillor for personal reasons.
Bridgend, Central. Stuart Baldwin (Labour) has resigned after five days to take up a politically restricted role.
Camden, Hampstead Town. Adrian Cohen (Labour) has resigned.
Chesterfield, Hollingwood & Inkersall. Mick Bagshaw (Independent) has ceased to be a councillor.
Coventry, Binley & Willenhall (2026). John Mutton (Labour) has died.
Epsom & Ewell, West Ewell. Death of Clive Smitheram (RA) on 25 April.
Guildford, Tillingbourne. Richard Billington (Conservative) has died.
Hackney, De Beauvoir. Tom Dewey (Labour) has resigned.
Hyndburn, Overton (2024). Michael Hindley (Labour) has ceased to be a councillor.
Lancaster, Harbour. Janice Hanson (Labour) died on 8 May.
Milton Keynes, Woughton & Fishermead (2023). Death of Carol Baume (Labour) on 23 April.
North East Derbyshire, Pilsley & Morton. Ann Holmes (Labour) has ceased to be a councillor.
North Warwickshire, Hartshill. Barry Lees (Conservative) died on 16 April.
Rutland, Oakham South. Ian Razzell (Ind, Elected as Con) resigned on 9 May.
Shetland, North Isles. Two candidates for three seats in May.
South Somerset, Brympton.
South Derbyshire, Midway. David Angliss (Ind, elected as Con) has ceased to be a councillor.
South Staffordshire, Penkridge North East & Acton Trussell. Isabel Ford (Conservative) has died.
Wandsworth, Tooting Broadway. Andy Gibbons (Labour) died on 24 May.
Warwickshire, Arden. John Horner (Conservative) died on 13 May.
Welwyn Hatfield, Hatfield Central (2023). Glyn Hayes (Labour) has ceased to be a councillor.
West Sussex, Worthing West. Beccy Cooper (Labour) has resigned due to taking up the leadership of Worthing DC.

The following 5 vacancies remain in limbo due to council reorganisations and it's unclear if they can/will be called:

Barrow-in-Furness: Dalton South. Cause: Resignation of Shaun Blezard (Lab) on 3 February 2022.

Cumbria, Dearham & Broughton. Hugo Graham (Conservative) resigned on 3 May.

Harrogate: Marston Moor. Cause: Death of Norman Waller (C) on 25 January 2022.
Ryedale: Sherburn. Cause: Resignation of John Raper (Ind) on c. 1 February 2022.
Ryedale, Thornton Dale. C W Delaney (Conservative) has resigned.

The following 2 vacancies will apparently not be called due to council reorganisation:
Carlisle: Botcherby and Harraby North. Cause: Resignation of Jack Paton (Ind) on 2 February 2022.
Cumbria: Longtown. Cause: Death of Val Tarbitt (C) on 28 January 2022.

[listener]

Not by-election news, but I thought it was worthy of note that David Boothroyd is now Cabinet Member for Finance and Council Reform at Westminster. I hope he will still have time to keep Boothroyds Blog going.

[samdwebber]

The Hampstead Town byelection in Camden will take place on 7th July:

www.camden.gov.uk/hampstead-town-by-election

Also local press stories:

www.camdennewjournal.co.uk/article/first-labour-election-winner-in-hampstead-town-set-to-step-down

www.camdennewjournal.co.uk/article/lib-dems-select-former-councillor-linda-chung-for-hampstead-town-by-election

[carolus]

Ryedale have in fact published notice of vacancies for both seats, with the Sherburn one dated 2 Feb(?!). But a bit odd that almost four months later no progress with that one.


www.ryedale.gov.uk/resources/thornton-le-dale-ward-notice-of-vacancy-2022/

www.ryedale.gov.uk/resources/sherburn-ward-notice-of-vacancy-2022/