Reform UK recorded its highest-ever result while the Greens stepped up, and Labour failed to make a dent in a series of by-elections on Thursday.
It was in Chapel St Leonards ward, Lincolnshire, where Reform candidate Paul Sutton romped to victory, bagging 65.8 per cent of the vote.
The result surpassed the 65.3 per cent in Skelton East (Redcar & Cleveland) that Nigel Farage’s party gained on October 9.
But the Greens were the biggest winners of the week, gaining an additional seat with their two victories.
Labour failed to impress, finishing near the bottom of the pile in four of the five by-elections.
The results should alarm Keir Starmer as the Greens under Zack Polanski increasingly hew to the Left of his party and could therefore cannibalise his vote share at the next general election.
Nigel Farage’s party is still leading the pack with the most seats won since May (55), with the Lib Dems trailing behind on 48.
With 13 seats to their name, the Greens’ positive week saw them close in on the Conservatives (16) and equalise Labour’s current haul (13).
Let’s take a closer look at yesterday’s results.
Gwynedd, Wales
Candidate Gwion Emyr was successful for Plaid Cymru in Gwynedd, Wales, defending the seat for the party.
A vacant seat needed to be filled on Plaid Cymru-led Gwynedd Council in the Bethel a’r Felinheli division.
Here are the full results:
- Plaid Cymru: 59.2 per cent (-25.0)
- Independent: 33.2 per cent (New)
- Reform: 6.8 per cent (New)
- Conservative: 0.8 per cent (New)
Gwion Emyr was successful for Plaid Cymru in Gwynedd, Wales
Chapel St Leonards ward, Lincolnshire
Paul Sutton took home the historic victory for Reform UK in Chapel St Leonards ward, Lincolnshire.
The by-election was called after Conservative Councillor Stephen Evans left his post.
Read the full results here:
- Reform: 65.8 per cent (New)
- Conservative: 15.6 per cent (-20.7)
- Independent: 6.7 per cent (New)
- Labour: 5.4 per cent (-27.7)
- Lib Dems: 4.7 per cent (New)
- Independent: 1.7 per cent (New)
Paul Sutton took home the historic victory for Reform UK in Chapel St Leonards ward, Lincolnshire
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Ridgeway ward, Oxfordshire
Hannah Griffin was victorious in Ridgeway ward, Oxfordshire, as the Lib Dems held their seat.
The by-election follows the resignation of Councillor Paul Barrow, who announced he would be leaving his post at the end of September, citing health reasons.
The results are:
- Lib Dems: 43.1 per cent (-15.0)
- Conservative: 24.4 per cent (-17.6)
- Reform: 19.9 per cent (New)
- Green: 11.9 per cent (New)
- Labour: 0.8 per cent (New)
Long Ashton ward, North Somerset
The by-election was sparked following the resignation of Green Party Councillor Stuart McQuillan in September.
The results are:
- Green : 55.7 per cent (+25.1)
- Conservative: 17.7 per cent (-7.2)
- Reform: 15.5 per cent (New)
- Lib Dems: 5.7 per cent (-28.8)
- Labour: 5.4 per cent (-4.5)
Wincheap ward, Canterbury
It was Peter Campbell of the Green Party that was victorious in Wincheap ward, taking the seat from the Lib Dems.
The by-election had been called following the resignation of Councillor Roben Franklin.
The results are as follows:
- Greens: 39.1 per cent (+24.1)
- Lib Dems: 24.1 per cent (-12.2)
- Reform: 16.3 per cent (New)
- Labour: 12.8 per cent (-25.5)
- Conservative: 7.7 per cent (-2.6)
