Reform UK has taken the Conservative-held East Markham ward on Bassetlaw District Council, with Matthew Evans winning the by-election by 186 votes.
Official results published by Bassetlaw District Council show Evans received 436 votes, ahead of Conservative candidate James Purle on 250.
Labour's Colette Roberts finished third with 151 votes, while Green candidate David Bean received 42.
East Markham by-election result
- Matthew Evans — Reform UK: 436 votes (49.6%)
- James Purle — Conservative: 250 votes (28.4%)
- Colette Roberts — Labour: 151 votes (17.2%)
- David Bean — Green: 42 votes (4.8%)
There was one rejected ballot. A total of 880 ballot papers were issued from an electorate of 2,089, giving a turnout of 42.13%.
Evans was formally declared elected following the poll on Tuesday 15 September.
Reform takes previously Conservative ward
The by-election was triggered by the resignation of Conservative councillor Gary Dinsdale, who had represented East Markham.
At the previous district council election in May 2023, Dinsdale won the ward for the Conservatives with 491 votes. Labour received 158 votes and the Liberal Democrats 95.
That gave the Conservatives approximately 66% of the valid vote in 2023. In Tuesday's by-election the Conservative share fell to 28.4%, while Reform, contesting the ward for the first time, secured just under half of the valid votes.
Direct comparisons between a scheduled local election and an individual by-election should be treated cautiously because turnout, candidates and the parties contesting the ward can differ.
Farage says 'Conservative Party is dead'
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage welcomed the result, pointing to the Conservatives' reduced vote share and Reform's performance on its first contest in the ward.
Farage said: “Excellent win in Robert Jenrick's seat last night. While the Tories plummeted to 28.4%, Reform gained almost 50% on our first time standing there. The Conservative Party is dead.”
Reform UK has described the result as a 44-point swing from the Conservatives to Reform. That figure is the party's own calculation rather than part of the official declaration issued by Bassetlaw District Council.
Jenrick welcomes result
Robert Jenrick, the Reform UK MP for Newark, also welcomed the victory. East Markham lies within his parliamentary constituency.
Jenrick described the result as an “incredible 44% swing from Tory to Reform” and praised Evans and his campaign team.
He added: “Matthew Evans worked incredibly hard and will be a very effective councillor. I'm humbled by the degree of support Reform is receiving locally.”
Official result confirms Reform victory
The central result is independently confirmed by Bassetlaw District Council's returning officer and does not rely on party claims.
The result gives Reform UK the East Markham district council seat, with Evans securing 49.6% of valid votes and a 186-vote majority over the Conservatives.