'Vote Restore get Labour!' Reform despair as they lose election by just 2 votes
Reform UK has lost a council seat to Labour by just TWO votes after a dramatic by-election result which has reignited arguments over whether smaller parties are splitting the right-wing vote. Labour candidate Caroline Reid secured 874 votes in St James's ward in Dudley, narrowly beating Reform's Chris Chivers, who received 872.
TL;DR
- Labour candidate Caroline Reid won the St James's ward by-election with 874 votes.
- Reform UK's Chris Chivers narrowly lost, receiving 872 votes.
- The result is a Labour gain from Reform UK, with a margin of just two votes (0.1% of the vote share).
- In the previous election (May 2026), Reform UK had won the ward with a majority of 903 votes.
- Labour's vote share increased by 16.2% to 38%, while Reform UK's fell by 11% to 37.9%.
- The Conservatives came third with 317 votes.
- Questions were raised about whether Restore Britain's 159 votes split the right-wing vote, potentially aiding Labour's victory.
- The by-election was triggered by the resignation of Reform councillor Ivor Robinson due to health reasons.
- Turnout for the by-election was 22.45%.