Reform UK wins first seat on district council

Jonny Austin (pictured right) has won the seat from the Conservatives

Reform UK has won its first seat on Harborough District Council by securing a by-election victory.

The party's Jonny Austin got 551 votes in a poll in Fleckney ward on Thursday to take the seat previously held by the Conservatives.

Liberal Democrat candidate Stephen Walkley came second, with 453 votes and the Tories finished third place with 416 votes.

The Green Party came fourth with 102 votes leaving Labour in fifth place with 54 votes.

The by-election was triggered by the resignation of Conservative councillor Stephen Bilbie, in September, who moved away from the area.

The district council is currently led by a 16-strong coalition of nine Liberal Democrat councillors, three Labour members and three Greens and an independent.

The Conservatives remain the largest party on the district council, with 15 seats, but do not have enough councillors to take control of the authority.

Full results

• Jonny Austin, Reform UK - 551 (35%)

• Stephen Walkley, Liberal Democrats - 453 (28.7%)

• Peter Critchley, Conservatives - 416 (26.4%)

• Jessie Jenkins, Green Party - 102 (6.5%)

• Helen Morrison, Labour - 54 (3.4%)

The turnout in the election was 32%

Another district by-election is expected to take place to fill a vacant seat in the council's Logan ward, in Market Harborough, in December.