Reform wins close county council by-election
BBCReform has won a closely fought Leicestershire County Council by-election.
The party's candidate Dee North saw off challenges from the Conservatives and the Green Party in a six-way contest to elect a new county councillor for the Narborough and Whetstone division.
The result of Thursday's vote means Reform has defended the seat in the by-election which was triggered by the resignation of former councillor Andrew Thorp.
"It was a tough campaign but I'm grateful for the trust voters have put in me," North told the BBC.
She won 1,033 votes to beat second place Conservative candidate Les Phillimore who got 927 votes.
Green candidate Mike Jelfs came third with 884 votes.
Labour's Lisa Pendery-Hunt finished fifth behind Liberal Democrat Ande Savage.
Reform took the seat from the Conservatives in May's county council election when the party won 42% of the vote.
That share fell to 32.9% on Thursday.
"It was close but we are really ecstatic to have held the seat," North said.
"This is the people's choice across Narborough, Littlethorpe and Whetstone.
"Residents have voted for stronger representation on local issues and that is exactly what I will deliver.
"I'm grateful for the trust placed in me and from day one I will be a visible, accessible councillor."
Phillimore told the BBC: "The real positive was that we pulled about an 8% swing back to the Conservatives so compared to where we were in May last year - we didn't win but it's a good result."
Jelfs said he was pleased that the Green Party had taken 28.2% of the vote and nearly achieved second place.
"It shows the progress the Greens are making. A few years ago we would not have been near this kind of result."
Full result
- Dee North, Reform UK - 1,033
- Les Phillimore, Conservative - 927
- Mike Jelfs, Green Party - 884
- Ande Savage, Liberal Democrat - 134
- Lisa Pendery-Hunt, Labour - 124
- Martin Garfoot, Advance UK - 28
The turnout in the election was 29.55%
Former Reform councillor Thorp quit in February citing heath and personal reasons after he took the seat from the Conservatives in May 2025.
At that point, Thorp was one of 25 new Reform county councillors who took control of the council ending the Conservatives' 24-year grip on the authority.
Reform remains in control of the authority as a minority administration.
It remains the largest single party on the council with 24 councillors but it cannot command a majority in the council chamber.
The Tories are the main opposition party with 15 members.
There are 11 Liberal Democrat county councillors, two Labour members, one Green and one Restore Britain councillor who defected from Reform earlier this year.
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