CRUMBRIA: 07.08.2025: BREAKING
REFORM UK has swept the board in today’s by-elections in Barrow.
The party won all three seats – Barrow Island and a pair in Risedale.
Nathan Holmes, Colin Rudd and teenager Sienna Churcher now join Barrow Town Council and become Reform’s first three councillors in the town.
Risedale saw the biggest Labour backlash. The Reform pair each polled more than 400 votes – more than double the numbers that voted for the two Labour candidates.
Labour’s Karl Scrogham, son of Barrow MP Michelle, was among the party’s candidates to lose out to Reform.
It’s further electoral evidence of a discontent against Labour and the Government, after just 13 months in power.
Westmorland & Furness Council announced Nathan Holmes as the first winner.
He received 162 votes to take the seat formerly held by Labour. Its candidate, David Schofield, polled 12o votes.
Turnout was 20.3%.
Conservative candidate John McDonnell was last with 49 votes.
The new Reform councillors now join the Labour-dominated town council.
It has an overwhelming Labour majority with 15 councillors, two Conservatives and one Independent. Reform, by dint of three councillors, become the official opposition.
Interesting times.
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Result of the Risedale Ward by-election for Barrow Town Council (E = Elected):
ASSOUAD, Therese Mary – Labour Party: 179
BISPHAM, Anne – Conservative Party: 76
CHURCHER, Sienna Zan – Reform UK: 414 (E)
MARSHALL, Sonjie – Conservative Party: 68
RUDD, Colin John – Reform UK: 414 (E)
SCROGHAM, Karl Anthony – Labour Party: 177
WEIR-PRESTON, Ethan Jack – Liberal Democrats: 47
Turnout: 16.40%
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