Tories win by-election after Reform councillor quit
BBCThe Conservatives have retaken a seat on Nottinghamshire County Council in a by-election.
Reform UK won in the Newark West division at the local elections in May, but the winning councillor stepped down after less than a week.
Keith Girling, who had represented the area for the Conservatives previously, reclaimed it on Thursday with a majority of just eight votes.
"It's showing the Conservatives aren't dead. We're alive and kicking and we're going to work hard for our communities," he said.
He added the circumstances under which the by-election was called had "a bit of an impact".
"We've knocked on a lot of doors and some of those that voted Reform [in May] were very angry at the fact he resigned," he said.
"It's cost about £25,000 to run this election, from a party that said they're going to save money."
The Newark MP Robert Jenrick said he was "absolutely delighted" at the result.
"It's the first time anywhere in the country that the Conservative Party has won a seat off Reform, so I'm sure the eyes of the country will be on Newark once again," he said.
The by-election went to a recount but there was no change in the result.
The full results were:
- Keith Girling (Conservative) - 680
- Caroline Hinds (Reform UK) - 672
- Paul Taylor (Labour) - 316
- Matthew Spoors (Green) - 190
- Rosemary Johnson Sabine (Liberal Democrats) - 90
- Andrew Leatherland (Social Democratic Party) - 11
Turnout was 21.99%.
The result does not change who is in control of the county council because Reform already had enough seats for a majority, with 41 of the 66 seats.
The Conservatives are the next largest group and now have 18 seats, while Labour have four.
The Ashfield Independents, the Broxtowe Alliance and the Broxtowe Independent Group each have one seat.
Reform won a rescheduled election in Mansfield last month, which had been rearranged after the death of a candidate.
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