Liberal Democrat Harry Wormington has won the Cranbrook, Sissinghurst and Frittenden by-election, gaining the Tunbridge Wells Borough Council seat previously held by the Tunbridge Wells Alliance.
Wormington received 697 votes in Wednesday's poll, finishing 107 ahead of Conservative candidate Nicholas Lees on 590. Reform UK's David Somers received 392 votes and Green Party candidate Max Chesters received 186.
Full by-election result
- Harry James Wormington — Liberal Democrats: 697 (37.4%)
- Nicholas Lees — Conservative: 590 (31.6%)
- David Somers — Reform UK: 392 (21.0%)
- Max Lawson Chesters — Green Party: 186 (10.0%)
The percentages are calculated from the council's published candidate vote totals and rounded to one decimal place. Tunbridge Wells Borough Council reported turnout of 32.2%, with an electorate of 5,811.
Liberal Democrats gain seat after resignation
The by-election was held on Wednesday 23 September 2026 after the resignation of Nancy Warne, who had been elected to represent the ward for the Tunbridge Wells Alliance. The council's official declaration names Harry James Wormington as the new councillor.
Although the Conservatives won a separate seat in this three-councillor ward at the May 2026 ordinary election, the vacancy contested in this by-election was Warne's former seat. The result is therefore a Liberal Democrat gain from the Tunbridge Wells Alliance.