Voters in Hooley, Merstham and Netherne will elect a new Reigate and Banstead borough councillor in a by-election on Thursday 6 August 2026.
Five candidates representing the Conservatives, Green Party, Labour, Liberal Democrats and Reform UK are standing for the vacant seat.
The verification and counting of ballot papers will take place on the morning of Friday 7 August, with the result expected to be declared later that morning.
Hooley, Merstham and Netherne by-election result
Election date: Thursday 6 August 2026
Council: Reigate and Banstead Borough Council
Ward: Hooley, Merstham and Netherne
Seat contested: One
Result: Awaiting declaration
| Candidate | Party or description | Votes | Share |
| Nick Abear | Green Party | — | — |
| Catherine Mary Barrett | Labour Party | — | — |
| Tina Siobhan Cohen | Liberal Democrats | — | — |
| Jon Mears | Conservative Party | — | — |
| Johnny Wolf | Reform UK | — | — |
Turnout: Awaiting declaration
Majority: Awaiting declaration
This page will be updated with the complete result, vote totals, vote shares, majority and turnout once the Returning Officer has made the official declaration.
Why is the by-election taking place?
The election follows the death of Conservative councillor Mus Tary, who represented Hooley, Merstham and Netherne from 2021.
Tary also served as Reigate and Banstead Borough Council’s executive member for housing and support.
Paying tribute following his death in June, council leader Richard Biggs described him as “an incredibly positive, friendly and approachable man” who had championed schemes helping residents access affordable housing.
Mayor of Reigate and Banstead Nick Harrison said Tary had made a significant contribution to the council and its residents and would be greatly missed.
The borough flag at Reigate Town Hall was flown at half-mast in his honour.
Who is standing?
The five candidates officially nominated by Reigate and Banstead Borough Council are:
- Nick Abear — Green Party
- Catherine Mary Barrett — Labour Party
- Tina Siobhan Cohen — Liberal Democrats
- Jon Mears — Conservative Party
- Johnny Wolf — Reform UK
Electors have one vote, with the candidate receiving the largest number of votes elected under the first-past-the-post system.
A Conservative defence in a changing ward
The vacant seat was held by the Conservatives, making this formally a Conservative defence.
Mus Tary was returned for the ward in 2022 with 958 votes. Labour finished second with 734, followed by the Green Party on 569 and the Liberal Democrats on 318. Turnout was approximately 34%.
The political character of the ward has changed since then.
Green candidate Shasha Khan gained another of its borough seats in 2023, taking 929 votes against 717 for the Conservatives. Joel Gabriel then won the seat contested in 2024 for the Greens with 1,011 votes, compared with 635 for the Conservative candidate.
The ward’s two continuing borough councillors are therefore both Greens. A victory for Nick Abear would give the party all three seats, while Jon Mears will attempt to retain the vacancy for the Conservatives.
Reform enters the borough contest
The appearance of Reform UK adds another important element to the election.
Reform candidate Johnny Wolf is contesting the borough seat after the party demonstrated substantial support in the broader Merstham and Banstead South division during the May 2026 East Surrey Council election.
In that two-seat contest, Reform candidates Paul Hunt and Johnny Wolf received 1,436 and 1,408 votes respectively. They finished behind Green candidates Joel Gabriel and Shasha Khan, who won the two available seats with 1,589 and 1,544 votes.
The East Surrey division covers a larger area and its result cannot be translated directly into support within the borough ward. Nevertheless, it suggests Reform has an established body of voters in the surrounding area.
The by-election will indicate whether that support can be converted into a borough council seat—and whether Reform’s presence affects the competition between the Greens and Conservatives.
When will the result be announced?
Polls will be open on Thursday 6 August.
Reigate and Banstead Borough Council has confirmed that ballot papers will be verified and counted on the morning of Friday 7 August. The official result will be published after it has been declared by the Returning Officer.
Ayes To The Right will update this page as soon as the confirmed result becomes available.