We have a county-wide election this week, but it's not for the council. The position of police and crime commissioner in Norfolk is up for grabs...
Norfolk Police and Crime Commissioner
(Lab defence)
Labour won this election in 2024, with a relatively narrow victory over the Conservatives. Police and Crime Commissioners are being abolished in two years time, with the responsibilities being transferred into the remit of elected mayors. This announcement last year led to a backlash from Norfolk's PCC, who quit Labour in anguish, accusing the government of a 'lack of consultation'. She continued in the role as an independent, before vacating the post last month due to a family illness. She also left her role as a district councillor (see below). There will be three newcomers on the ballot paper for the PCC by-election, in addition to candidates from Labour, the Conservatives, Greens and Lib Dems. Joining the fray are an independent, Reform and - wait for it - Restore Britain. Rupert Lowe's gang will be hoping for a decent result as his Great Yarmouth constituency falls entirely within the catchment area and there is a £5,000 deposit at stake. All four parties saved their deposits in 2024.
Karl - Con GAIN
Rich - Ref GAIN
Rich - Ref GAIN
There are eight council seats to be decided this week, all of which fall inside England and all but one sit across a central belt from Staffordshire in the west to Norfolk in the east. The only exception is a seat in the Rushmoor borough of Hampshire.
Dereham Toftwood, Breckland District Council
(Lab defence)
Triggered by the resignation of the incumbent, who simultaneously vacated her post as Norfolk Police and Crime Commissioner (see above). This ward was a straight head-to-head last time round between Labour and the Conservatives, and the only new entry this time will be Reform. Reform have won the last three council by-elections held in Breckland, but it will be interesting to see how this lush semi-rural ward takes to their candidate, who is from Turkey!
Karl - Ref GAIN
Rich - Con GAIN
Ramsey & Bury, Cambridgeshire County Council
(Ref defence)
This was a Reform gain from the Conservatives in last year's local elections, but the winner recently stood down, citing 'personal circumstances'. Last year's defeated Conservative is seeking to get her seat back at this by-election, in which the only change is the addition of an independent candidate.
Karl - Con GAIN
Rich - Ref HOLD
Kidlington West, Cherwell District Council
(LDm defence)
Triggered by the resignation of the incumbent, who gained this seat from the Conservatives in 2021. She resigned for 'personal reasons', primarily to spend more time with her family. The Lib Dems will be very keen to hold here, as their coalition majority hangs by a thread. Currently they are the largest party and run the council alongside four Greens. The same four parties that contested this ward in May will do so again.
Karl - LDm HOLD
Rich - LDm HOLD
Old Catton, Norfolk County Council
(Ref defence)
Triggered by the resignation of the incumbent less than four weeks after he was elected in May, citing 'poor health'. Did he not expect to win? A very poor show that leaves his colleague with the difficult task of holding the seat. Reform have selected a former Conservative councillor for that effort. There will be two new intriguing entries - a rare local election outing for the Monster Raving Loony Party and the first ever local election candidate standing in the name of Restore Britain.
Karl - Grn GAIN
Rich - Con GAIN
Fletton & Woodston, Peterborough City Council
(Lab defence)
As often tends to be the case with the Banana Republic of Peterborough, this by-election is mired in controversy before a single vote has been cast. Triggered by the resignation of a young native lady who was elected as a Labour councillor in the 2024 elections, she quit the party a year later after accusing her comrades of 'sustained bullying and marginalisation'. Why was she targeted? She simply called for CCTV to be installed in the city's taxis. This led to her facing accusations of 'racism' from Muslim comrades, who also tarred her family with the same brush. In resigning from the council recently, she accused the body of 'systemic cover-ups', which Labour's Muslim council leader denied. As Peterborough wards go, this one is not overtly Muslim, but it did opt for the Greens in May. An independent candidate who stood here in that election has dropped out, while there are new entries for the Lib Dems and Your Party (yes, a rare electoral outing for the Fruit and Nutters).
Karl - Ref GAIN
Rich - Grn GAIN
Wellington, Rushmoor Borough Council
(Lab defence)
The retirement of the incumbent triggered this contest. He had served on the council on and off since 1976. Set in an area that has historically been a Conservative stronghold, this changed in 2024 when Labour took control of the council and won the local Aldershot Westminster constituency for the first time in history. Labour lost outright control of the council following several defections last year, but they remain the largest party and run it as a minority administration. Both the Greens and Lib Dems will be new entries, while an independent candidate who stood here in May has dropped out.
Karl - Ref GAIN
Rich - Ref GAIN
Himley & Swindon, South Staffordshire District Council
(Con defence)
Triggered by the death of the 82-year-old incumbent, who had been council leader as recently as 2024. He was re-elected to this ward in 2023, having bested the only two other candidates - a Lib Dem and an independent. The ballot paper will be a much more crowded affair this time, with candidates from Reform, Labour, the Greens and an additional independent joining the fray.
Karl - Con HOLD
Rich - Ref GAIN
Manor, Stafford Borough Council
(Lab defence)
As with the previous seat, this was triggered by the death of the 82-year-old incumbent. The longstanding councillor had been re-elected most recently in 2023, when she topped the poll with both ward seats up for grabs. She and her Labour colleague easily saw off the Conservatives, while a solitary Green candidate collected the wooden spoon. Those three parties are contesting this by-election, along with newcomers Reform.
Karl - Ref GAIN
Rich - Ref GAIN
Richey leads Karl by three points going into week 9, with Karl having suffered a disastrous round last week.
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