Reform wins seats in district council by-election

Reform UK has taken two seats on South Kesteven District Council following a snap by-election caused by the resignation of two councillors.

Kyle Abel was elected to the Aveland Ward, beating Conservative candidate Tony Vaughan by 10 votes, while Richard Litchfield was elected to the Belmont Ward after beating Conservative candidate Adam Stokes by two votes.

The by-elections were held on Thursday following the resignations of Conservative councillor Richard Dixon-Warren and Independent councillor Phil Gadd.

Reform UK now has five seats out of 56 on the district council.

The by-elections, more than two years after the local elections in May 2023, had a 36% turnout in the Aveland Ward compared with 39% previously and 21% in the Belmont Ward compared with 27% previously.

Aveland Ward

Kyle Mark Abel, Reform UK - 290

David Aaron Burling, Labour Party - 23

Brynley Heaven, Green Party - 115

Anthony Philip Vaughan, Conservative - 280

Belmont Ward

Declan Thomas Peter Gibbons, Independent - 143

Sean Duncan Hothersall, Green Party - 61

Richard Stephen Litchfield, Reform UK - 239

Susan Elizabeth Nash, Labour Party - 35

Adam Neil Stokes, Conservative - 237

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