Reform UK has gained the Croft Baker council seat from Labour in North East Lincolnshire, with Melissa Jade Grice securing 41.9% of votes cast against Labour candidate Janet Elizabeth Mager’s 36.3%.
The by-election was held on Thursday 12 November 2026 following the resignation of Labour councillor Marian Jervis. The result increases Reform UK’s representation on the 42-seat authority, which it leads as a minority administration.
Croft Baker by-election results
| Candidate | Party | Vote share |
| Melissa Jade Grice | Reform UK | 41.9% |
| Janet Elizabeth Mager | Labour | 36.3% |
| Matthew Branson | Restore Britain | 7.9% |
| Stephen William Harness | Conservative | 7.3% |
| Leon Brown | Green | 4.8% |
| George Georgiou | Independent | 1.8% |
Shares reported by PollCheck and corroborated in the 13 November by-election roundup. Exact vote totals and turnout have not been independently confirmed, so they are not included here.
Reform gain from Labour
The vacant seat was held by Labour before Marian Jervis resigned. This is therefore a Reform UK gain from Labour, not simply a Reform hold. The party had already won another Croft Baker seat in the May 2026 local elections, when Oliver Freeston took 51.4% of votes cast.
Labour increases its share despite losing
Labour’s share rose from 19.9% in the ward’s May election to 36.3% in November, an increase of 16.4 percentage points. Reform UK’s share fell from 51.4% to 41.9%, a decrease of 9.5 points. These comparisons involve different council seats and candidates, and should not be treated as proof of how individual electors changed their votes.
Restore Britain third
Restore Britain candidate Matthew Branson finished third with 7.9%, ahead of the Conservatives on 7.3%, Greens on 4.8% and independent George Georgiou on 1.8%. The figures do not establish how votes would have been distributed if any candidate had not stood.
Implications for North East Lincolnshire Council
Reform UK was already the largest group on North East Lincolnshire Council following its gains in May 2026. Winning Croft Baker increases its representation but does not give it the 22 seats needed for an outright majority on the 42-member authority.
Next electoral test
The next scheduled local elections in May 2027 will provide a broader indication of political support across the borough. This result records a change in the party holding the vacant seat, while the different vote-share movements illustrate the limits of drawing wider conclusions from a single by-election.