Andy Burnham will face six crunch tests in this week’s upcoming local council by-elections.
The Prime Minister will be under pressure as Labour is tipped to lose the Queen’s Park ward in Brighton and Hove after their own councillor resigned after leadership allegedly blocked her from raising urgent child safeguarding and single-sex service concerns.
Her exit triggered the eighth council by-election in Brighton since May 2023, exposing deep internal friction within the local Labour administration regarding transgender policies and women’s rights.
The Greens pose a significant challenge as Mr Burnham continues to face the threat of a divided left.
Cranbrook, Sissinghurst & Frittenden (Tunbridge Wells)
Residents of the Cranbrook, Sissinghurst & Frittenden ward head to the polls tomorrow in a Tunbridge Wells Borough Council by-election, prompted by locally based independent party councillor Nancy Warne stepping down.
Four candidates are fighting for the South Eastern ward.
Nicholas Lees stands for the Conservatives, while David Somers represents Reform UK.
Max Lawson Chesters is the Green Party’s nominee, and Harry James Wormington contests the seat for the Liberal Democrats.
The Conservatives go into the contest as clear frontrunners, having captured 46 per cent of the vote when the ward’s other seat was decided at the May 2026 local elections.
Reform UK came in second, with a 25 per cent share.
Andy Burnham faces six crunch tests in this week’s upcoming by-elections
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PA
Queen’s Park (Brighton and Hove)
Residents of Queen’s Park in Brighton and Hove head to the polls on Thursday in a by-election for a seat on the city council.
The contest was prompted by the departure of Labour’s Milla Gauge, who resigned from her position as councillor over cross-sex hormones for children as young as 11.
She accused the council leadership of stonewalling her when she attempted to raise residents’ concerns about the council’s trans policies.
It will be the third time voters in this two-member ward have been called to a by-election since the full council elections held in May 2023.
Five candidates are contesting the seat.
Rudi Dikty-Daudiyan for the Liberal Democrats, Labour’s Steve Gladwin, Reform UK’s John Shepherd, Conservative Stefan Sönke Speckesser, and Mark Strong representing the Green Party.
Though Labour previously held the seat, the Greens pose a significant challenge.
They captured the ward’s other seat in a September 2025 by-election, polling 1,133 votes to Labour’s 729.
Their momentum in the city was further underlined by a commanding 49 per cent vote share in the Goldsmid ward by-election last June.
Leadership allegedly blocked Milla Gauge from raising urgent child safeguarding and single-sex service concerns
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BRIGHTON AND HOVE CITY COUNCIL
Blockley (Cotswold)
Voters in the Blockley ward head to the polls this Thursday in a by-election for Cotswold District Council.
The contest follows Green Party Councillor Clare Turner’s resignation from the seat, which she held for over three years, citing new professional commitments.
Five candidates are competing for the vacancy.
Tom Bradley for the Conservatives, the Green Party’s Bob Eastoe, Reform UK’s Matt Fincham, Labour’s Josh Littler-Jennings, and Danny Loveridge representing the Liberal Democrats.
The Greens secured the seat with a commanding 56 per cent share at the May 2023 elections, but the Conservatives have been tipped as likely to win it back.
The Tories previously held the ward in both 2015 and 2019.
The broader Cotswold District Council remains under Liberal Democrat control, with the party occupying 22 of the authority’s 34 seats.
Thursday’s result will determine whether the Greens can hold on against the Tories.
New Bradwell (Milton Keynes)
Voters in New Bradwell will head to the polls this Thursday for a Milton Keynes City Council by-election prompted by the death of Labour’s Shanika Mahendran.
The councillor passed away on July 1 after a short illness, aged just 28.
Ms Mahendran, who had only recently secured her seat in the reconfigured two-member ward at the May 2026 elections, made history as the first Asian woman to hold a cabinet post in the local authority.
She also held the city cabinet portfolio for planning and placemaking and was widely respected within the local community.
Five candidates are vying for the single vacancy.
Tracey Bailey for Labour, Julian Vernon Camies for Reform UK, Martin Kenneth Clarke for the Liberal Democrats, Gabriel Ferreira da Costa for the Conservatives, and Alan Francis for the Greens.
Labour is the clear favourite to retain the seat.
At the May 2026 elections, the party captured both ward seats on 35 per cent of the vote, with Reform UK on 27 per cent and the Greens on 22 per cent.
The Greens pose a significant challenge as Mr Burnham continues to face the threat of a divided left
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PAWombourne North (South Staffordshire)
Voters in the Wombourne North ward of South Staffordshire District Council head to the polls this Thursday in a by-election prompted by the death of long-standing Conservative representative Barry Bond MBE, who served the ward on the district council for many years.
A single seat is up for grabs, with five candidates putting themselves forward.
The Conservatives have selected Elizabeth Beatrice Florence Keeling, while Reform UK is fielding Marie Shortland.
They are joined by Anil Singh for Labour and Co-operative, Michael James Jones for the Liberal Democrats, and Claire McIlvenna for the Green Party.
Wombourne North has traditionally been rock-solid Tory territory.
The party claimed all three seats on offer at the May 2023 elections, gaining 57 per cent of the total vote.
However, polling has shown the Conservatives face a fight to hold the ward, with Reform UK the favourites.
Bray (Windsor and Maidenhead)
Residents of the Bray ward in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead will go to the polls this Thursday in a by-election prompted by the death of long-serving Conservative Councillor Leo Walters last month.
Walters had represented the area for decades, making him one of the borough’s most established local politicians.
Five candidates are up for the seat.
Clare Stuart-Adams for the Conservatives, Joanna Korczak for the Liberal Democrats, William Albert Sennett for Reform UK, Nigel William Smith for Labour, and John Joseph Baldwin standing for The Borough First Independents.
On paper, the Conservatives enter as favourites given Bray’s long history as a safe Tory ward.
However, the Liberal Democrats currently run the council, commanding 21 of the authority’s 41 seats.
The Maidenhead parliamentary constituency also swung to the Lib Dems at the 2024 general election.