Greens take Reform seat in first of its kind win

The Green Party has gained a council seat in Derbyshire from Reform UK in the first gain of its kind in England.

Lian Pizzey beat Juliette Stevens 1,341 votes to 1,091 in the by-election for the Horsley ward for Derbyshire County Council, which Reform gained at the local elections last year.

It means the Greens now have three county councillors and it is the first time the party has gained a seat from Reform in any election in England.

Reform UK refused to comment when approached at the count.

Speaking from the count at Ripley Town Hall, Pizzey told the BBC his win was symbolic of a "realignment" in politics and said the Greens had proven they too could take on Reform.

He said: "I think we'll see more of these [Green gains from Reform] as time goes on.

"The vote for the Conservatives, the vote for Labour are down significantly and we are now seeing something of a shift.

"I think a lot of people in this election have decided that they are voting either Reform or they are voting for Green and I think we'll only see more of this."

Pizzey said people who he had doorstepped had said they had been "unimpressed with some of the things that Reform has done" on the county council.

"They've mentioned care homes, they've mentioned the fact that council taxes can be going up by the maximum amount and wanted... a local representative, who would actually go to Matlock and hold the Reform council to account.

"I'm so pleased that the residents have been able to come out and say now we want somebody else, somebody who is going to represent us locally," he added.

The contest was triggered by the resignation of former Reform councillor Richard Morgan in autumn.

Conservative candidate Amanda Paget said the party was struggling to rebuild its brand in areas where they were once strong like Horsley.

"I think some of the more national party need to be on the ground locally and actually seeing what's going on and actually what matters to people rather than trying to guess what matters to people," she said.

She also urged Kemi Badenoch to do a "stronger job" at leading the party.

Labour candidate John Cowings said the local party had endeavoured to persuade residents of the difference between county matters and national politics.

He said: "Some voters have voiced their displeasure at the government and it comes down to whether local Labour members are able to turn that around.

"It is taking time for the government to demonstrate that it is improving things, it takes time for decisions to be felt by people."

John Cowings, Labour – 116

Adrian Miller, Liberal Democrats – 43

Amanda Paget, Conservative – 426

Lian Pizzey, Green Party – 1,341

Juliette Stevens, Reform UK – 1,091

Alex Stevenson, Advance UK – 57

In an Amber Valley Borough Council by-election for the Codnor, Langley Mill & Aldercar ward, Reform won by a significant margin, doubling the number of votes of the nearest competitors, Labour.

The vote had been held following the resignation of Labour councillor David Moon.

Dave Chambers, Reform UK – 595

Gemma Davey, Liberal Democrats – 42

Jake Gilbert, Conservative – 130

Mark Howard, Labour – 249

Rob Marshall, Derbyshire Community Party – 50

Bess Saunders, Green Party – 77

Alex Stevenson, Advance UK – 161

Additional reporting by the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

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