Kemi Badenoch’s Conservatives are facing a double electoral defence as voters from Fife to the Cotswolds will go to the polls in less than 24 hours.
The Tory leader is looking to push her party ahead after two big name defections to Reform UK, as Robert Jenrick and Andrew Rosindell joined Nigel Farage’s party just days ago.
There are five by-elections tomorrow, with two Conservative defences and a defence for the Greens, Labour and SNP respectively.
GB News has taken a deep dive into each council by-election and what’s up for grabs across the country.
Willaston & Thornton (Cheshire West & Chester)
First up, we’re headed to the North West and a by-election in the Willaston & Thornton ward on the north west outskirts of Ellesmere Port.
The by-election was called following the death of veteran Conservative councillor Myles Hogg in November.
Paying tribute to Councillor Hogg, Conservative Group Leader Adrian Waddelove, said: “His desire to keep representing his residents was underlined as he carried on right until the end, and proved to be a welcome focus , even as his own medical condition worsened.
“Myles will be sorely missed by everyone involved in Cheshire West and Chester public life, his advice with years of knowledge and experience, will be incredibly difficult to replace. My thoughts and prayers are with his wife and family.”
Since June 2025, the council has been run by a Labour minority administration.
At a parliamentary level, the ward mostly falls into the northernmost tip of the Chester North and Neston constituency, last won by Labour’s Samantha Dixon with a majority of 11,870 against Tory Simon Eardley.
THE FULL LIST OF CANDIDATES STANDING IN WILLASTON & THORNTON WARD:
- Carol Braithwaite – Liberal Democrats
- Edd Flynn – Labour
- Scott Fulton-Brown – Green Party
- Richard Thomas Hare – Reform UK
- Sion Roberts – Conservative Party
Councillor Myles Hogg died in November
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CHESHIRE CONSERVATIVES
Leeswood (Flintshire)
Just across the border into Wales there’s a by-election in the village of Leeswood in Flintshire, about three miles from the market town of Mold.
Labour councillor Ray Hughes, who represented the ward since 2008, died in late October.
Paying tribute, Council Leader Dave Hughes said: “Councillor Hughes was a true champion for his community in Leeswood. He cared deeply about local people and worked hard to make a difference.”
Local Labour MP Becky Gittins called him “a true community servant, a real character, and a good friend.”
No party has definitively held Flintshire County Council since 2008.
Following the 2022 council election Labour formed a minority administration with informal support from the Liberal Democrats.
Mrs Gittins won the newly created Clwyd East seat for Labour with a majority of 4,622 over former Vale of Clwyd Tory MP James Davies.
THE FULL LIST OF CANDIDATES STANDING IN LEESWOOD WARD:
- Joseph Caruana – Independent
- Allison Davies – Flintshire People’s Voice
- Shaun Owen – Independent
- David Rule – Independent
- Kristian Salkeld – Reform UK
- Richard Sefton – Welsh Liberal Democrats
- Ray Thomas – Welsh Labour
- Oliver Martin Wilson – Welsh Conservative Party
Labour councillor Ray Hughes died in October
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FACEBOOK/BECKY GITTINS
The Rissingtons (Cotswolds)
Down to the picturesque Cotswolds now and a rural electoral test for Zack Polanski’s Green Party as they look to hold on to The Rissingtons ward on Cotswolds District Council.
The by-election was called after the resignation of Councillor Andrew Maclean due to a serious health diagnosis.
Councillor Maclean, who became the first Green Party politician elected to the council, said it had been a “joy to represent” the ward, receiving a standing ovation at his final meeting.
He said: “Each of the four villages has its own special character but they have all been so welcoming and kind to me over the years.”
Cotswolds District Council is a Liberal Democrat stronghold, with Sir Ed Davey’s party holding the Gloucestershire authority since 2019.
However, at a parliamentary level, the corresponding North Cotswolds constituency is represented by long serving Conservative MP Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown.
Sir Geoffrey, the current Chair of the Public Accounts Committee, won the newly created seat at the 2024 General Election with a majority of 3,357 over Lib Dem candidate Paul Hodgkinson.
THE FULL LIST OF CANDIDATES STANDING IN THE RISSINGTONS WARD:
- Bob Eastoe – Green Party
- Matt Fincham – Reform UK
- Craig Thurling – Liberal Democrats
- Alastair Watson – Conservative Party
Green Party Councillor Andrew Maclean has stood down
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COTSWOLDS DISTRICT COUNCIL
Central Wymondham (South Norfolk)
Another by-election defence for the Conservatives in the Central Wymondham ward in Norfolk after the death of Councillor Kevin Hurn in October.
Local Conservative Federation Chairman Kim Carsok said: “Kevin Hurn was a Wymondham man through and through, widely active in the community.
“Kevin is spoken of highly by many people. He always responded to emails, often very late at night, answering questions and doing his best to help. His sudden loss is a shock and he will be deeply missed by all of us.”
The Conservatives have run the council as a minority administration since 2024, having lost the full control over the authority they had since 2007.
At the 2024 General Election, former Labour Mayor of Flint Ben Goldsborough won the seat for Sir Keir Starmer’s party for the first time since 1945 with a majority of 2,826 over Conservative candidate Poppy Simister-Thomas.
THE FULL LIST OF CANDIDATES STANDING IN THE CENTRAL WYMONDHAM WARD:
- Paul Anthony Barrett – Green Party
- Lowell Patrick Doheny – Labour
- Jonathan Richard Gerald Purle – Conservative Party
- Anthony Spears – Reform UK
- Stephen John Witt – Liberal Democrats
Councillor Kevin Hurn died in October
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Glenrothes West & Kinglassie (Fife)
Last but not least, we’re headed to Scotland and Glenrothes West and Kinglassie, where SNP Councillor on Fife Council Julie Ford has resigned due to personal reasons.
Glenrothes West and Kinglassie is one of Fife’s 22 wards, electing three councillors.
It covers southern and western parts of Glenrothes, including several residential areas, as well as the nearby former mining village of Kinglassie.
The ward boundaries were slightly changed in 2017, losing the Stenton area and one councillor.
Politically, the ward lies within the Mid Fife and Glenrothes constituency for the Scottish Parliament, which the SNP has held since 2007, and within the Glenrothes and Mid Fife constituency for the UK Parliament.
The UK seat was regained by Labour’s Richard Baker from the SNP in 2024, having previously been taken by Peter Grant in 2015.
THE FULL LIST OF CANDIDATES STANDING IN THE GLENROTHES WEST AND KINGLASSIE WARD:
- Andrew Butchart – Conservative
- Zoe Hisbent – SNP
- Ed Scotcher – Liberal Democrats
- Danny Smith – Scottish Family Party
- Romano Valente – Reform UK
- Jacob Winton – Labour
