The Conservative Party has secured two council seats in by-elections held in Essex, unseating Reform UK candidates.
Danielle Belton won the Sweyne Park and Grange seat on Rochford District Council with over 50% of the vote. Belton, who was previously the leader of the council until losing her seat on May 7, will now serve in opposition to the Reform UK-led administration. "I was not predicting that kind of victory," Belton told the BBC. "It sends a message. This area is not prepared to be used as a stepping stone for opportunist Reform members."
Her husband, Stuart Belton, won the Rayleigh West seat on Essex County Council, pushing Reform UK into third place behind the Liberal Democrats. Belton had lost her previous council seat, Hockley and Ashingdon, to Reform by a narrow margin of 26 votes in May.
The by-election turnout was 37%, which is described as unusually high for such contests. Despite these losses, the results will not alter the balance of power in either local authority. Reform UK holds a majority on Essex County Council with 52 members. At Rochford District Council, the party is expected to continue leading as a minority administration, remaining the largest party with 12 out of 39 seats.
Belton expressed her willingness to serve in opposition, stating, "I'm quite comfortable sitting in opposition and scrutinising the decisions they are going to try and make."