Labour regain Dudley ward seat by margin of just two votes

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 31 Oct, 02:20 · Archive

Labour's Caroline Reid won the St James's ward on Dudley Council by two votes in a by-election on 29 October.

Labour regained the St James's ward on Dudley Council after a nail-biting election count on 29 October. Caroline Reid, who had lost the seat in May's local election, won with 874 votes, beating Reform UK's Chris Chivers by just two votes after he received 872 votes. The result was so close that votes had to be recounted before being declared. Turnout was 22.45 per cent, considerably less than in May's election when 32.9 per cent of eligible voters participated.

The Conservatives remain the largest group on the council's 72-seat chamber with 27 councillors. Reform UK are the largest opposition group with 22 members. Labour now has 16 councillors, the Liberal Democrats have four, the Black Country Party has two seats and Restore Britain has one.

Cllr Reid replaces Reform UK's Ivor Robinson, who stood down in September for personal reasons, triggering the by-election. In May's election Reform UK received 1,630 votes in the ward while Labour gained 727 votes.

How it is being reported

• Labour regain Dudley ward by just two votesCaroline Reid won the seat she lost in May’s local election after a hotly contested by-election on October 29.Express & Star · 31 Oct, 02:00
• Labour regain St James's by just two votes in dramatic Dudley Council electionReform UK ousted by just two votes in by-election which handed dramatic win to LabourBirminghamLive · 30 Oct, 10:11

In this story: Caroline Reid · Chris Chivers · Labour · Reform UK · St James's · Dudley Council

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log