In terms of who lost out, it has been a mixed bag this week, with only the Greens holding on to their seat in Stroud District Council.

The councils who held by-elections are as follows:

• Coggeshall (Braintree District Council) in Essex
• Spital (Tamworth Borough Council) in Staffordshire
• Hextable (Sevenoaks District Council) in Kent
• Thrupp (Stroud District Council) in Gloucestershire
• Murton (Durham County Council) in County Durham

Coggeshall (Braintree District Council) in Essex

In Essex, the Coggeshall ward in Braintree District Council saw the electorate vote in Reform UK’s candidate, Nathan Robins.

The Coggeshall ward by-election had a turnout of 47.2 per cent, with 1,547 ballot papers issued.

Mr Robins won 30.7 per cent of the vote (554 votes), a Reform UK gain from an independent seat.

Councillor Sam Journet, Group Leader of Basildon Borough Council, took to social media to celebrate the win for Reform, saying “history was made”.

He wrote: “Yesterday, history was made. Nathan Robins became our first Councillor in Braintree Council for Reform UK.

“The opposition said he had no chance, well, he showed them.

“What a fantastic campaign, well done to him and the amazing campaign team.”

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SAM JOURNET / FACEBOOK

Coming in second was an independent candidate, Albert Riches, who claimed 28.7 per cent of the vote (down 25.6 percentage points since the last election in 2023).

Labour came third, with 20.3 per cent of the vote, gaining 4.4 percentage points since the last election.

The Conservatives claimed 17.2 per cent, losing 12.6 percentage points since 2023.

Finally, the Liberal Democrats only got 3.1 per cent of the vote.

The by-election was called after independent councillor, Tom Walsh, resigned from his position from Braintree District Council due to personal reasons.

Mr Walsh said in a statement: “It has been my privilege to represent you for the past six and a half years.

“Coggeshall is located in the Witham parliamentary constituency, which is represented by Priti Patel, Shadow Secretary of the Foreign Office.”

The full results:

• Reform, Nathan Robins – 30.7 per cent
• Independent, Albert Riches – 28.7 per cent
• Labour, Sarah Neal – 20.3 per cent
• Conservatives, India Jayatillake – 17.2 per cent
• Liberal Democrats, John Fleet – 3.1 per cent

Spital (Tamworth Borough Council) in Staffordshire

Now to the Midlands where Reform UK won another seat, knocking Labour off its perch in the Spital ward of Tamworth Borough Council.

The Spital ward by-election had a turnout of 26.2 per cent, with 1,654 people voting.

Having previously not run in the ward before, Nigel Farage’s party made significant gains by taking 43.6 per cent of the vote.

The party’s candidate, Leslie Wayne Luca gained 719 votes.

Reform UK councillor, Tracey Dougherty, took to social media to congratulate Mr Wayne Luca, she said: “You are the best man for the job.

“In the time I have known you, I see a kind, thoughtful, decent man who cares about his constituents and someone who goes above and beyond to help people. Well done my friend.”

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REFORM UK TAMWORTH / FACEBOOK

Coming in second was the Green Party, taking 19.4 per cent of the vote, having not previously run in the ward.

Then, the Conservative Party won 19.4 per cent of the vote (down 18.9 percentage points since the last election in 2024).

Knocked to last position is Labour, taking 16.6 per cent of the vote, losing 23.3 percentage points since the last election.

The by-election was called due to the death of Councillor Marion Couchman in December 2025, who was first elected to the council in 1997.

Councillor Carol Dean, Leader of Tamworth Borough Council, said in a statement regarding Ms Couchman’s death: “I was devastated to hear about the passing of my great friend, Councillor Marion Couchman.

“Marion was a dedicated public servant who cared deeply about our community.”

Spital is located in the Tamworth parliamentary constituency, which is represented by Labour MP, Sarah Edwards.

The full results:

• Reform, Leslie Wayne Luca – 43.6 per cent
• Green Party, Stephen Andrews – 20.4 per cent
• Conservatives, Brett Beetham – 19.4 per cent
• Labour, Stephen Holland – 16.6 per cent

Hextable (Sevenoaks District Council) in Kent

Down in Kent, the Conservatives came up on top in Sevenoaks District Council’s by-election for the Hextable ward.

The win is a gain for the Tories as an independent previously held the position.

The Hextable ward by-election had a turnout of 47.2 per cent, with 1,547 ballot papers issued.

Lee Allen, representing the Conservatives won 38.9 per cent of the vote (600 votes), gaining 19.3 percentage points since Hextable ward’s last election in 2023.

Laura Trott, the Shadow Education Secretary, took to social media to congratulate Mr Allen, he wrote: “Absolutely delighted that Lee Allen has been elected as the new Conservative Sevenoaks District Councillor for Hextable.

“He will be an excellent local advocate for residents and a huge thank you to everyone who voted for him.”

Coming in second was Reform UK’s candidate, Daniel Kersten, took 26.3 per cent of the vote, a significant gain as this is the first time the party ran in the ward.

The Liberal Democrats came in third, taking 23.8 per cent of the vote – significantly more than percentage points in this ward compared to how the party performed across other by-elections this week.

An independent candidate took seven per cent of the vote, losing 73.4 percentage points.

And finally, the Greens came in last, with four per cent.

Hextable is located in the Sevenoaks parliamentary constituency, which is represented by Laura Trott, Shadow Education Secretary.

The final results:

• Conservatives, Lee Allen – 38.9 per cent
• Reform, Daniel Kersten – 26.3 per cent
• Liberal Democrats, Ashley Wassall – 23.8 per cent
• Independent, Jackie Griffiths – 7 per cent
• Green Party, Oliver Young – 4 per cent

Thrupp (Stroud District Council) in Gloucestershire

To Gloucestershire, where the Greens were able to hold on to their seat in the Thrupp ward by-election as part of Stroud District Council.

The Thrupp ward by-election had a turnout of 41.3 per cent, with 802 people voting.

The Green Party candidate, Helen Elliott-Boult, won 67.5 per cent of the vote (540 votes), gaining 3.1 percentage points from the previous election in 2024.

Ms Elliott-Boult took to social media to announce her win, writing: “I won with 67 per cent of the vote – absolutely delighted.

“Huge thanks to all the Trupp, Brimscombe and parts of Rodborough for coming out and putting your faith in me.”

Coming in second was Reform UK, despite not previously running in the ward, with its candidate, Michael Rees, gaining 16.5 per cent of the vote (132 votes),

In third place was the Conservatives, winning 7.2 per cent of the vote, then Labour with 5.8 per cent and finally, the Liberal Democrats taking just 2.8 per cent.

The by-election was triggered due to the resignation of the previous Green Party councillor, Beki Aldam, who decided to step down from the position due to family changes and a new job.

Hextable is located in the Stroud parliamentary constituency, which is represented by Labour MP, Dr Simon Opher.

The final results:

• Green party, Helen Elliott-Boult – 67.5 per cent
• Reform, Michael Rees – 16.5 per cent
• Conservatives, Anthony Pilkington – 7.2 per cent
• Labour, Mick Fealty – 5.8 per cent
• Liberal Democrats, Raffy Chiswick – 2.8 per cent

Murton (Durham County Council) in County Durham

Up North, the Labour party gained a seat from Reform UK in the by-election for the Murton ward in Durham County Council.

This is the first Labour gain from any party since the 2025 local elections.

The Murton ward by-election had a turnout of 47.2 per cent, with 1,547 ballot papers issued.

Labour candidate, Julie Griffiths, will now sit on Durham County Council as she won 50.6 per cent of the vote (1,004 votes), a 17.6 percentage point gain from the last election in 2025.

Councillor Allen Curtis, who sits on Sunderland City Council, took to social media to congratulate Ms Griffiths, writing: “Labour GAIN from Reform in Murton Co Durham, congratulations Julie Griffiths.”

The position was previously held by Reform UK councillor, David Cumming, who stepped down from the position early January this year, due to overseas employment, triggering the by-election.

Reform UK came in second, with its candidate, Theo Bell, taking 39.6 per cent (786 votes), losing just 4.5 percentage points since the election last year.

Other candidates didn’t come close, with the Greens, Conservatives and Liberal Democrats all gaining less than 10 per cent of the vote combined.

The Greens gained 4.8 per cent of the vote, the Conservatives took 3.1 per cent and finally, the Liberal Democrats got 1.9 per cent.

Murton is located in the Easington parliamentary constituency, which is represented by Grahame Morris, Labour MP.

The full results:

• Labour, Julie Griffiths – 50.6 per cent
• Reform, Theo Bell – 39.6 per cent
• The Greens, Issac Short – 4.8 per cent
• Conservatives, Dorothy Luckhurst – 3.1 per cent
• Liberal Democrats, Neil Thompson – 1.9 per cent