Reform UK has won the Failsworth West council by-election in Oldham by 42 votes, with Chris Baddeley defeating Labour and Co-operative candidate Pete Davis.
Baddeley received 642 votes to Davis’s 600 in the election held on Thursday 12 November 2026. Oldham Council recorded turnout of 19.7%.
Full Failsworth West by-election results
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Vote share |
| Chris Baddeley | Reform UK | 642 | 41.5% |
| Pete Davis | Labour and Co-operative | 600 | 38.8% |
| Rob Gunn | Restore Britain | 175 | 11.3% |
| Andrew Kevin Jones | Green | 60 | 3.9% |
| Stephen Eric Davenport | Conservative | 51 | 3.3% |
| Lynne Christine Thompson | Liberal Democrats | 19 | 1.2% |
| Total valid votes | 1,547 | 100% |
Reform UK gains seat previously won by an independent
The vacancy arose following the resignation of Mark Wilkinson, who was elected as an independent in May 2024 before joining Reform UK in 2025. Although Reform UK held the seat immediately before the by-election, the result is classified as a gain from an independent when compared with the party that won the seat at its previous election.
Labour narrows the gap
In the most recent ward-wide contest in May 2026, Reform UK won approximately 55.9% of the vote and Labour approximately 17.4%. At this by-election, the shares were 41.5% and 38.8% respectively. Those figures involve different candidates and different council seats in the same ward, so they do not establish how individual voters changed their choices.
Restore Britain finishes third
Restore Britain candidate Rob Gunn received 175 votes, or 11.3%, ahead of the Green Party, Conservatives and Liberal Democrats. The results do not show how supporters of any one party would have voted in a different field of candidates.
Vacancy followed councillor resignation
Wilkinson stepped down in September 2026, citing health reasons, after serving as leader of the local Reform UK council group. The by-election was contested by six candidates.
Contrasting results across Greater Manchester
The result came on the same day that Labour won the Hindley Green by-election in Wigan. Both vacancies had previously been won by independent candidates, although Wilkinson had subsequently joined Reform UK. Oldham Council remains under no overall control. The November results offer local evidence of electoral competition but cannot by themselves establish a national trend.
The full declaration is available on Oldham Council’s website.