Labour have won two council by-elections in wards that had previously been held by Reform UK.
On Friday morning, the results of two by-elections for seats on Northumberland County Council were announced.
The wards of Hirst and Amble had both been vacated. In Amble, this was due to the death of Reform UK councillor Arty Hume, who died on July 29 at the age of 71.
In Hirst, the seat was vacated after Reform UK incumbent John Allen failed to turn up to any meetings for six months, the Chronicle reports.
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And it was a successful night for Labour, who claimed both seats.
The Amble result saw Labour candidate Amy Spriggs win 439 votes, ahead of Reform’s Warren Ladyman on 379 and the Conservative’s candidate Jenny Richards on 237 votes.
Meanwhile, in Hirst it was a similar story, with Labour’s Melanie Fox winning 350 votes and Reform finishing in second again after their candidate Kerry Davison claimed 210 votes.
Allen had stood again in the seat as an independent. He won just 11 votes.
Whilst the results do little to affect the balance of power on the council, where the Tories have 28 of the 69 seats, they do mean Labour close in on Reform as the official opposition.
Labour now have 10 council seats, with Reform the second-largest party on the council with 18 seats.
The by-election wins are also further evidence of Labour’s polling gains translating to the real world.