Reform UK and Labour are set to clash in eight key regions over the next few days, with the Tories looking to hold onto wards despite a plummeting population.It comes after a Reform UK councillor resigned after just two months in Bentley.Rival Labour candidate Matt Jones started an online petition, accusing Reform UK of wasting taxpayers’ money – beginning a fierce row.Mr Jones said: “Three months of allowance is more than £3,500, and on top of the approximately £25k for this by-election, Reform UK are costing the people of Doncaster more than just wasted time.He added: “How is this fair to the people of Bentley? He did not attend a single council meeting, and I am not aware that he held any surgeries for residents.”I believe that if he has taken a basic allowance and not done a single thing to help the people of Bentley, either he or Reform UK should pay back this money.”The other seats up for grabs on Thursday are Labour-held, and both spurred by the deaths of their incumbent councillors.The Council by-elections are taking place on August 21.BentleyThe by-election was triggered due to the Reform UK councillor Samuel Booth standing down after just two months in the role.A spokesperson for the Doncaster Reform UK group said Booth had resigned for “personal reasons”.After winning the seat just months ago, Reform UK will be favourites to keep the seat.Candidates: Venessa Aradia – GreenAndy Hiles- Trade Unionist and Socialist CoalitionAhsan Jamil – Workers Party of BritainMatthew Peter Jones – LabourChristine Helen Lunney – ConservativesJane Nightingale – IndependentIsaiah-John Reasbeck – Reform UKGiulia Savini – Giulia SacaniCranfordReform UK are set to challenge this Labour stronghold following the death of Councillor Sukhbir Singh Dhaliwal.Labour candidates at the local elections in 2022 polled over 60 per cent of the vote for all three seats, making it notionally the safest ward in the borough.The Conservatives have come second in the ward, getting around 20-30 per cent of the vote. A strong challenge from both the Greens and Reform UK is likely, as by-elections usually see a smaller proportion of the electorate turn out, meaning a relatively small number of votes can swing results.Candidates:Hira Singh Dhillon – Labour Miruna Leitoiu – Liberal DemocratsGurpreet Singh Sidhu – Conservative Khushwant Singh – Reform UKGurpal Singh Virdi – GreenAbermawThe Welsh seat is up for contention following the death of the late Councillor Rob Triggs, who died at the age of 59.Mr Triggs had been a county councillor since 2022, and had also been a member of Abermaw Town Council for 13 years.He stood as an independent MP and won the ward with 72 per cent of the vote.Despite the large majority, just over 750 people voted, meaning the outcome of the byelection is hard to predict. Candidates: Wendy Lorraine Cleaver – IndependentDeana Davies Fisher – IndependentChris Green – Pirate Party UKAndrew Joyce – Liberal DemocratsTerry Temple – Reform UKHedd Vaughan Thomas – ConservativeBarrhead, Liboside and Uplawmoor by-electionThe By-election in the Barrhead, Liboside and Uplawmoor ward follows the death of Councillor Betty Cunningham OBE.The SNP won the ward off Labour in 2022 by 1.9 per cent of the vote.Returning Officer Steven Quinn urged residents to vote, he said: “It’s very important that all residents in the Barrhead, Liboside and Uplawmoor ward use their vote. The successful candidate elected as a Councillor will make decisions on behalf of residents about a wide range of services across East Renfrewshire including schools, roads and parks. He added: “It’s also important to be aware that it’s a different voting system from last year’s General Election and there will be clear guidance on this on the ballot paper and in voting booths on the day.”Council elections use the Single Transferable Vote (STV) system, which asks voters to mark their candidates in numerical order of preference, rather than using an X.Candidates: Farooq Choudhry – Conservatives Julie Ann Costello McHale – Labour Gus Ferguson – Abolish the Scottish Parliament PartyAndy MacGibbon – Reform UKDavid McDonald – SNPKaren Sharkey – Scottish Green PartyAlton AmeryOnly three candidates are up for election on the East Hampshire District Council.Candidates:Brighton Gono – ConservativesLizzie Marshall – Liberal DemocratsRichard Dean Moore – Reform UKAddlestoneTwo seats on Runnymede Borough Council in the Addlestone South ward will be voted for following the death of John Furey and the resignation of Peter Snow.Addlestone currently has no overall control.The current composition is: 20 Conservative councillors, 8 Runnymede Independent Residents’ Group/Englefield Green Independents, 6 Labour, Co-operative and Green Party Group, 4 Liberal Democrats, and 3 Independent Group councillors.Candidates:Scott Michael Kelly – Reform UKArran Richard Neathey – Labour and Co-operative PartySteven Lee Ringham – GreenShannon Saise-Marshall- ConservativeMike Smith – Liberal Democrats Addlestone SouthAddlestone South is a ward within Runnymede Borough Council, and the current representation is the Conservatives.Since its first election in 1973, Runnymede Borough Council has been under Conservative control, apart from a short period between 1996 and 1998 when it was under no overall control. In the previous election in 2021, the Conservative Party retained control of the council, winning nine out of 13 seats and holding their majority. Liberal Democrat, Labour and Green councillors are also present on the council.Candidates: Jenny Coulon – Liberal DemocratsHoward Alan Freeman – ConservativeScott Michael Kelly – Reform UKMike Kusneraitis – ConservativeRonan Stephen McCaughey – Liberal DemocratsArran Richard Neathey – Labour and Co-operative PartySam Jonathan Newman – ReformElaine Percival – Labour and Co-operative PartyIzabela Wawryszuk – GreenHinchley Wood, Claygate and OxshottConservative leader Kemi Badenoch and Tory party chairman Kevin Hollinrake have personally visited the area where a significant housing project is proposed on a local farm.In what has been described as “one of the most expensive villages in England”, plans to build 300 homes have caused outrage amongst some residents. A large Reform Party bus has also been present as part of their campaigning.The Liberal Democrat MP, Monica Harding, has been campaigning in Claygate too. All three parties will be keen to secure the ward which the Conservatives currently control.Candidates:Andrew Burley – Conservative Andy Burton – Liberal DemocratsSarah Coomes – GreenMary Susan Marshall – IndependentIrene Threlkeld – Labour Nicholas David Wood – Reform UK
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