Reform council leader vows ‘Reform will NOT go woke’ as council bins off flags for Christmas lights | GB NEWS

Labour’s dwindling support across the country has been laid bare once again after the party lost ground in each of the seven council by-elections on Thursday, while Nigel Farage’s Reform UK and Zack Polanski’s Greens headed in the opposite direction.

By-elections were held in Cheshire East, Dumfries and Galloway, East Sussex, Redcar and Cleveland and Stratford-on-Avon.

Reform gained two of the seven by-elections, flipping two seats previously held by the Conservatives.

Kemi Badenoch’s party managed to win two seats, taking the Hale ward in Trafford from the Greens and Stanraer and The Rhins which was previously held by an Independent.

However, Labour’s woes continued this week.

The Greens romped to victory in the Macclesfield Central seat on Cheshire East Council with Sir Keir Starmer’s party succumbing to a minus 25.7 point loss.

Labour managed to hold South Bank ward on Redcar and Cleveland council narrowly beating Reform, although finishing with a minus 17.8 point drop from the previous election.

Macclesfield Central – Cheshire East

In the seat of Macclesfield Central, John Anthony Knight won for the Greens, taking the seat off Labour.

It marks the first seat for Zack Polanski’s party on Cheshire East council.

The by-election was called following the resignation of Ashley Farrall days before he was jailed for attempting to pervert the course of justice.

He had been suspended by the party and had been sitting as an Independent before his arrest.

Mr Knight said: “I would like to say thank you for the trust the voters of Macclesfield Central have placed in me to represent them on Cheshire East Council. It’s taken a lot of work over a good many years. We came very close to winning the seat back in 2019.”

Mr Polanski added: “Bring. On. May. Lots more of this. Right across England & Wales.”

The party is currently run by a joint Labour/Independent administration, with the Conservatives on 34, Labour on 28, Independent Group on 13, Liberal Democrat on one; Green Party on one; Reform UK on one; Independent Socialist on one and the Independent non-grouped on three.

At last year’s General Election, Tim Roca made history becoming the Cheshire town’s first ever Labour MP at Westminister, beating incumbent Conservative MP David Rutley, who had held the seat since 2010, with a majority of 9,120.

John Anthony Knight with party leader Zack Polanski

 | CHESHIRE GREEN PARTY

Stanraer and The Rhins – Dumfries and Galloway

In what could be seen as a win for the Conservatives, Julie Currie won the seat.

However, the party saw a minus 7.4 point drop from the previous election.

Reform won 34.4 per cent of the vote with first preferences, however, it was not enough for the party to win the seat under the Scottish voting system.

Julie Currie won the seat for Russel Findlay’s Scottish Conservatives

 | FINLAY CARSON MSP

Ashdown and Conquest – East Sussex

Reform UK’s Aidan Fisher emerged victorious taking the Ashdown and Conquest ward on East Sussex Council, seeing off competition from the Greens and the Tories.

The by-election was called after the death of Conservative Veteran councillor, Peter Pragnell.

A spokesman from the Hastings branch of Reform said: “A stronger voice for Hastings & Rye, putting our priorities first. A commitment to accountable, transparent local representation.

“A renewed focus on our community: local jobs, strong public services, safer streets and fiscal responsibility.

“We are proud and motivated, and we now turn our attention to delivering on our promises. Let’s keep building. Let’s keep standing up for our community.”

The council remains run by a Conservative minority administration with 22 councillors, with the Liberal Democrats on 12 councillors, and five Labour and Green councillors respectively.

At Westminster, the ward is based in the Hastings and Rye constituency, once held by former Conservative Home Secretary Amber Rudd.

Labour’s Helena Dollimore won the seat at last year’s General Election, beating Conservative incumbent Sally-Ann Hart with a majority of 8,653.