Kemi Badenoch’s Conservative Party failed at a chance to claw back support in a wave of by-election battles across Britain this week, as the party failed to successfully defend three seats in stronghold regions.
The party has suffered at the hands of a “divided right” in recent months, with the popularity of Nigel Farage’s Reform UK and Rupert Lowe’s Restore Britain skewering support and testing the two-party system.
The Conservatives defended vacated council seats in Cheshire, Scotland, Dorset and Wales – facing fierce opposition from the right, in addition to a rebounded Labour under the imminent leadership of Andy Burnham.
The Tories lost to the SNP in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, the Lib Dems in Powys, Wales, and to an independent candidate in Cheshire – only retaining the Dorset seat in St Leonards & St Ives.
Meanwhile, Labour suffered a gruesome string of defeats, losing a seat in Harborough to Reform, and finishing dead last in the Cotswolds, Gloucestershire, and one of three Powys wards.
Reform UK however, made major gains, pinching seats in Powys, Harborough and Torfaen respectively.
The widespread contests dampened the Tory flame, having begun to climb in the public opinion polls, with voter intentions in favour of Mrs Badenoch’s party up to 20 per cent this week, according to YouGov – which is in line with Labour and just four points behind Reform.
The Conservatives lost council seats in Cheshire, Scotland and Wales
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PA
St Leonards & St Ives (Dorset) – CONSERVATIVE HOLD
- Margaret Elizabeth Goringe, Conservative – 37.9%
- Philip Leach, Reform – 33.6%
- Andrew Paul Barham, Lib Dem – 25.7%
- Mark Hamilton Keith, Green 7.8%
Glantwymyn (Powys) – PLAID CYMRU HOLD
- Rwth Hughes, Plaid Cymru – 81.8%
- Peter Phillip Robinson, Reform UK – 10%
- Heidi Rhiann, Conservative – 4.5%
- Angela Standrin, Lib Dem – 3.7%
Peterhead South & Cruden (Aberdeenshire) – SNP GAIN FROM CONSERVATIVE
- Angus Matheson, SNP – 36.5%
- Andy Curwen, Reform UK – 22.9%
- Ross Gibb, Conservative – 21.3%
- Ross Thomson, Independent – 7.4%
- John Ross, Independent – 6.5%
- Tony Ware, Lib Dem – 2.8%
- Dave Bestwick, Scottish Family Party – 2.7%
Yscir with Honddu Isaf & Llandew (Powys) – LIB DEM GAIN FROM CONSERVATIVE
- Colin Millichap, Lib Dem – 39.7%
- Dawn McIntosh, Reform UK – 34.6%
- Kate Heneghan, Plaid Cymru – 12.8%
- Mark Edward Burton, Conservative – 9.1%
- Eric Rosoman-Matthews, Green – 2%
- Alan Cooper, Labour – 1.9%
Labour also suffered a gruesome string of defeats, finishing dead last in the Cotswolds, Gloustershire, and one of three Powys wards
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GETTYLlanyre with Nantmel (Powys) – REFORM GAIN FROM INDEPENDENT
- Gareth Hughes, Reform UK – 41.6%
- Tim Wilson, Lib Dem – 26.2%
- Tyler John Chambers, Conservative – 24.3%
- David Owen Evans, Independent – 5.9%
- Steve Court, Green – 2.1%
Lutterworth East (Harborough) – REFORM GAIN FROM LABOUR
- Bill Piper, Reform UK – 28.2%
- Sarah Anne Simms, Conservative – 27%
- Martin Cullen, Labour – 19%
- Stephen Walkley, Lib Dem – 18.9%
- Adam Karl Holmes, Green – 6.8%
Cirencester Park (Gloucestershire) – LIB DEM HOLD
- Angela Ann Pllegram, Lib Dem – 58.7%
- David Fowles, Conservative – 18.4%
- Joe Day, Reform UK – 15.7%
- Dylan James Brook, Green – 4.8%
- Joshua Littler-Jennings, Labour – 2.5%
Weaver & Cuddington (Cheshire West & Chester) – INDEPENDENT GAIN FROM CONSERVATIVE
- Gabrielle Goad, Independent – 35.7%
- Patrick William Melody, Conservative – 25.5%
- Adam Wordsworth, Reform UK – 20.3%
- Bob Cernik, Labour – 14.7%
- Elizabeth Jewkes, Lib Dem – 3.7%
Reform UK made major gains, pinching seats in Powys, Harborough and Torfaen
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X/NIGEL FARAGESt Michael’s (Cotswold) – LIB DEM HOLD
- Naomi Shoshana Helen Bloomer, Lib Dem – 58.4%
- Glasyn Gibson, Conservative – 19%
- Joe Day, Reform UK – 15.4%
- Dylan James Brook, Green – 4.6%
- Joshua Littler-Jennings, Labour – 2.5%
Horwich North (Bolton) – HORWICH AND BLACKROD FIRST HOLD
- John Francis Scoble, Horwich and Blackrod First Independents – 50%
- Wendy Parkinson, Reform UK – 22.8%
- Graham Dawson, Labour – 14.5%
- Nicola Salmon, Green – 8%
- Raymond Ndokwo, Conservative – 3%
- Scott James Turner-Preece, Lib Dem – 1.1%
- Peter Brett Hopkinson, Independent – 0.5%
Llantarnam (Torfaen) – REFORM GAIN FROM INDEPENDENT
- Jonathan Edward Hollins, Reform UK – 42.7%
- Sean Robert Wharton, Labour – 30.6%
- Joe Tresidder, Plaid Cymru – 16.1%
- Roger Morgan, Conservative – 4.9%
- tom Pedley, Green – 4.1%
- Brendan Roberts, Lib Dem – 1.5%
Malinslee & Dawley Bank (Telford & Wrekin) – LABOUR HOLD
- Ben Carter, Labour – 42.9%
- Doug Halsall, Reform UK – 41.4%
- Thomas Paul Hoof, Conservative – 7.6%
- Jazz Holmes, Green – 5.5%
- Patrick Jerome Doody, Lib Dem – 2.5%