Reform UK wins Harraby South by-election in Cumberland
Party gains first council seat from Labour
Reform UK has secured its first seat on Cumberland Council after winning the Harraby South by-election.
Josh Kirkwood, the Reform UK candidate, won the seat with 560 votes, surpassing Labour's candidate who received 469 votes.
The party achieved 46.2% of the vote, marking a significant political shift in the area.
Labour's vote share decreased by 7.6% compared to the 2022 election.
The Conservative Party saw a notable drop, recording 16.8% of votes, down 18.5% from the previous year.
The Green Party and Liberal Democrats made their first appearances in this election, obtaining 2.1% and 1.6% of the vote, respectively.
Independent candidates, who previously held 23.8% in 2022, did not participate this time.