Reform UK has gained Hutton & Locking from the Conservatives in a North Somerset Council by-election.
William “Will” Jones was elected for Reform UK in Thursday’s contest, taking a seat previously held by the Conservatives.
Reform UK said Jones had been elected with around 38% of the vote, while the Conservatives fell to around 15%.
Separate reported results put Reform on 38.5%, the Liberal Democrats on 33.3%, the Conservatives on 15.3%, Labour on 7.2% and the Green Party on 5.7%.
Reform takes Conservative seat
The by-election followed the death of long-serving Conservative councillor Terry Porter, who had represented Hutton & Locking since 2009.
At the 2023 North Somerset Council elections, Porter was elected with 834 votes, while independent candidate Michael Solomon won the ward’s other seat with 628.
Reform UK did not stand in the ward at that election.
Liberal Democrats finish second
The Liberal Democrats finished second in Thursday’s contest on a reported 33.3%, placing them just over five percentage points behind Reform UK.
The Conservatives, who were defending the vacant seat, finished third on a reported 15.3%.
Labour received 7.2% and the Greens 5.7%.
Another Reform council gain
The victory gives Reform UK another councillor in North Somerset and follows a series of local by-election gains for the party.
Reform leader Nigel Farage welcomed the result, describing Hutton & Locking as one of two “brilliant Reform wins” announced by the party on Friday.
Reform UK’s own account of the result said its vote share had risen from zero at the previous election to 38%, while the Conservative share had fallen from 37% to 15%.
Reported percentage result
Reform UK — 38.5%
Liberal Democrats — 33.3%
Conservative — 15.3%
Labour — 7.2%
Green Party — 5.7%
REFORM UK GAIN FROM CONSERVATIVE
North Somerset Council has not yet published the signed declaration of result on its election page, so the detailed percentage figures above are reported results rather than figures taken directly from the council’s declaration.