Reform UK loses Dudley seat by two votes in by-election
Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 3 Nov, 06:23 · Archive
Labour's Caroline Reid regained a Dudley Council seat that Reform UK won in May, beating the party by two votes in a by-election on 29 October.
Labour's Caroline Reid regained the St James's seat on Dudley Council in a by-election on 29 October with 874 votes, defeating Reform UK by two votes. The seat became vacant when Reform's sitting councillor resigned for personal reasons. The turnout was 22.45 per cent, substantially lower than the 32.86 per cent turnout when Reform UK won the seat in May's local elections with 1,630 votes.
Restore Britain, another right-leaning party, received 159 votes in the by-election. Reform UK's national deputy leader Richard Tice said 'vote Restore get Labour', suggesting vote-splitting cost Reform the seat. However, Dudley's only Restore Britain councillor, Andrew Southall, who defected from Reform earlier this year, disagreed. He said: 'Had Reform found the three votes they needed to win, nobody would be talking about vote splitting.' He argued that with roughly 8,000 people not voting, Reform should have asked why they could not mobilise enough support, comparing the loss to 'losing the final game of the season, getting relegated, and blaming the other teams for winning their games elsewhere'.
Dudley Reform UK's leader Marco Longhi acknowledged that Restore Britain's 159 votes 'may well have made the difference', but said Reform's job was to persuade people to vote for them.
How it is being reported
- Reform UK's Richard Tice comments on Dudley election defeat dismissed by Restore Britain councillorVote Restore get Labour is like getting relegated and blaming other teams for winning says Restore Britain councillorBirminghamLive · 3 Nov, 05:30
- 'It's like losing the final game of the season' - Dudley Reform blasted over 'excuses' after agonising two-vote defeatDudley's only Restore Britain councillor, Andrew Southall, says Reform UK need to ask questions after losing a seat on the council by two votes, with Labour's Caroline Reid regaining the seat on a lower turnout.Express & Star · 2 Nov, 16:07
In this story: Labour · Reform UK · Restore Britain · Caroline Reid · Andrew Southall · Richard Tice · Dudley
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