Labour takes two Thurrock council seats from Reform in by-elections
Reform has lost two seats after its councillors resigned
Labour has won two seats from Reform in yesterday’s Thurrock council by-elections, which were triggered by Reform councillor resigning.
Amin Hoque was declared as the Labour new councillor for Grays Town ward, and Labour candidate Jo Potter was elected in Grays Riverside.
The former Reform councillors for these wards, Joe Soper and Marc Stanley were elected on 7 May, but resigned just two weeks later citing personal reasons.
Reform won 45 of the 49 seats on Thurrock Council in the May elections. Following the two by-election defeats, the party now holds 43 seats on the council.
Reacting to the the result, Rob Ford, professor of political science at the University of Manchester, wrote on X: “Gaining two seats from Reform? In Thurrock? Not bad as first council by-election results for a new PM go.”
Luke Tryl, director at think tank and polling firm More in Common, also commented: “Obviously important not to read too much into individual council by elections, but Labour will be pleased to start by winning two seats from Reform in an area that has proven particularly tricky for them in past 18 months.”
Olivia Barber is a reporter at Left Foot Forward
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