Lib Dems win Labour MP's former council seat

The result gives the Lib Dems a total of five councillors on Southampton City Council

The Liberal Democrats have won the council seat vacated by Southampton's former council leader when she became an MP.

George Percival of the Lib Dems won the Shirley ward seat in a by-election with 1,249 votes, leaving Labour in third place behind the Conservatives.

It was previously held by Satvir Kaur for 13 years before she stood down after becoming the MP for Southampton Test in the general election in July.

Mr Percival, who is a firefighter, will serve the remaining term created by the vacancy until May 2027.

The result brings the Lib Dems up to five councillors on the Labour-run city council.

Labour have 35 councillors, the Conservatives have 10 and the Green Party hold one.

Ms Kaur became the MP for Southampton Test in July’s general election, following on from Labour party colleague Alan Whitehead, who held the seat for 27 years.

She had been a city councillor since 2011 and became the first Sikh woman to lead a local authority in the UK when she served as a council leader from 2022 to 2023.