REFORM UK has topped the poll in a by-election to secure its first seat via the ballot box on Cwmbran Community Council.
Though the by-election was caused after David Thomas, who leads the party’s group on Torfaen Borough Council, was removed under local government rules for failing to attend a sufficient number of meetings, he had remained listed as an independent councillor on the volunteer council.
Reform and four other parties contested the Thursday, February 26 by-election which coincided with the Parliamentary by-election in Gorton and Denton in Greater Manchester which the Green Party won.
Reform’s Stephen Whitehorn had almost as many votes as the other four parties combined to win the Two Locks ward to become the only non Labour councillor on Cwmbran Community Council which has 19 seats.
He secured 290 votes while the second-placed Labour Party, Plaid Cymru, the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives had a combined total of 294.
Turnout was 25.5 per cent.
Result
- Daniel Bennett, Plaid Cymru 94
- Chase Blount, Welsh Conservatives 22
- Miles Andrew Cook, Welsh Liberal Democrats 76
- David Cornish, Welsh Labour 102
- Stephen Whitehorn, Reform UK 290 (elected)