Labour loses majority after Reform by-election win

Labour has lost its majority on North East Derbyshire District Council following a Reform UK by-election victory.

Jamie Hodgson has been formally announced as the newly-elected Reform councillor for the Eckington South and Renishaw ward.

His victory on 10 September meant Labour's number of councillors dropped to 26, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).

Reform UK Leader Nigel Farage hailed Hodgson's by-election win alongside a separate Reform UK by-election victory this month at North Somerset Council as "brilliant Reform wins".

The Labour group remains the largest on the council, while the Conservatives hold 14 seats, Reform six and North East Derbyshire Independents four.

There are also two independent councillors and one Green.

Hodgson - who is also a Derbyshire county councillor for Eckington and Coal Aston - was elected with 426 votes.

He was followed by Labour's David Landall with 298 votes, Conservative Philip Wheelhouse with 229, Independent Jackie Foster with 55, and the Green Party's Hannah Court with 52.

Nigel Barker, Labour leader of the district council, said: "We acknowledge the election result in Eckington South and Renishaw and respect the democratic mandate given by those who voted.

"However, we still believe Labour offers the best way forward for North East Derbyshire.

"We will listen carefully to the message residents have sent, but we still have an ambitious programme for North East Derbyshire and will continue to work hard for communities across the district.

"We congratulate councillor Hodgson on his election and wish him well in representing the residents of the ward."

The by-election for the vacant Eckington South and Renishaw seat involved a 23.19% turnout, according to North East Derbyshire District Council.

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