Reform wins Bilston by-election to Wolverhampton Council

Reform UK has won the Bilston North by-election in Wolverhampton Council, with a 36 per cent lead over Labour.

Anita Stanley will become Wolverhampton’s first councilor in Reform UK with 652 seats in the election called after the death of Labor councilor Sue Roberts.

It will be a disappointing result for the two main parties in Wolverhampton Council. Labor was comfortably defeated in the traditional Labor stronghold, while the Conservatives were pushed to fourth place, behind the Greens.

Labour’s Luke Guy secured 471 votes to take second place, narrowly ahead of Green Party candidate Hardev Singh with 438 votes.

Conservative Andrew Randle received 257 votes, while liberal Democrat Julian Donald came fifth with 55 votes.

Turnout was just under 19.2 percent.

One of the first to congratulate her after the result was announced was her campaign manager, former Labor councilor Celia Hibbert, who now sits as an independent councilor for the Penn ward.

“She is fantastic, thank you so much to everyone in Bilston North,” Councilor Hibbert said.

Paul Darke, leader of the Green Party in Wolverhampton, called on Councilor Stephen Simkins, leader of Wolverhampton Council, to consider his position in the wake of the result and the controversy surrounding councilor Greg Brackenridge, who resigned as leader of the West Midlands Fire Authority over claims that he had falsely claimed to be an ex-commander in the Royal Marines.