County Council by-election win for Conservatives

The Conservative Party has won a seat in a by-election for Staffordshire County Council.

Jeremy Pert is the new county councillor for the Eccleshall and Gnosall division.

Counting took place at Gnosall Memorial Village Hall after votes were cast on Thursday, 17 July for one seat in the division, which was previously held by a Reform UK councillor.

The result means that of the 62 seats on the authority, Reform UK has 48 seats and the Conservatives 11, while Green, Labour and Stafford Borough Independents have one seat apiece.

The votes cast were:

• Ray Barron, Reform UK: 938
• Leah Elston-Thompson, Labour: 140
• Jeremy Pert, Conservative: 1689 ELECTED
• Scott Spencer, Green Party: 1037

Turnout was 34.8 per cent.

Pat Flaherty, Staffordshire County Council's chief executive and Returning Officer for the by-election, said:

I'd like to thank everyone who has helped and supported with the organisation of this by-election, both our own team and colleagues at Stafford Borough Council, and everyone who has worked on polling stations and at the count. Their work has ensured that everything has run efficiently over the last few weeks. I'd also like to congratulate Jeremy Pert and welcome him to the county council."