William Jones has become the first candidate to be elected outright for Reform UK on North Somerset Council, following a by-election in the Hutton and Locking ward. Jones won with 38% of the vote, receiving 706 votes in a closely contested election.
He expressed gratitude to voters, stating: “Thank you to everyone who voted. It’s been a hard-fought campaign, but it’s the honour of my life to have been elected to represent our community. While it’s easy to get swept up in an election, it’s important to remember why it happened in the first place.”
The election was triggered after the passing of Councillor Terry Porter, a dedicated Conservative representative for Hutton and Locking since 2009, who died peacefully at his home on Friday 26 June. Mr Jones acknowledged Mr Porter’s long service, stating he left “some mighty big shoes to fill.”
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Jones edged out Liberal Democrat Georgina Barry, who received 612 votes. Other candidates included John Edward Stanfield (Conservative) with 281 votes, Yue He Parkinson (Labour) with 133 votes, and James Gavin Willis-Boden (Green) with 104 votes.
This marks Reform UK’s first electoral success as a party in the area; previously, the party’s councillors on North Somerset Council were initially elected as independents before joining Reform UK. For example, Stuart Davies (Wick St Lawrence and St George’s) was originally elected as an independent before joining Reform UK following political disagreements elsewhere, while Andy Cole (Nailsea Golden Valley) defected from the Conservative group to Reform UK.
Hutton and Locking ward is represented by two councillors; the other is Mike Solomon, an independent who aligns with the Liberal Democrat group.
North Somerset Council is currently governed by a partnership administration consisting of the Liberal Democrats along with independents in their group, Labour, Greens, and Portishead Independents. The current composition of the council includes 13 councillors in the Conservatives and independents group, 12 in the Liberal Democrats and independents group, 10 Labour councillors, 8 Green councillors, 4 Portishead Independents, and 3 Reform UK councillors.
The next full local elections for North Somerset Council are due to be held next year.