Labour win Penistone East by-election months after seat taken by Refrom UK

Labour won yesterday’s by-election in Penistone East, triggered after Reform UK’s Kay Hughes resigned just eight weeks after being elected due to personal reasons.

John Roberts was elected as the third councillor for Penistone East, joining Labour’s Alex Burnett and Frances Nixon,who were elected in the local elections in May, 2026.

The turnout for the election on August, 20, 2026, was 38.58 per cent, compared to the 56 per cent turnout for the ward in May.

A total of 3,346 votes were cast, out of a possible 8,674 people who were eligible to vote.

There were seven rejected ballot papers.

Each candidate received the following votes:

Labour Party – John Roberts – 1,728 – ELECTED

Reform UK – Eunice Asante – 795

Conservative Party – Steven John Burkinshaw – 387

Green Party – Ehren Holt – 59

Independent – Peter Millar – 87

Independent – Carlo Turner – 2

Liberal Democrats – Andy Waters – 70

Restore Britain – David Wood – 218

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