Reform wins first seat on council in by-election

Reform UK has secured its first seat on a council after winning a by-election.

Josh Kirkwood was elected as councillor for the Harraby South ward of the Labour-controlled Cumberland Council on Thursday.

The by-election was called in July after the former Labour councillor Lucy Patrick stepped down.

Kirkwood said he hoped to bring a "fresh perspective" to the council.

He won the by-election with 560 votes, with Labour's candidate Ruth Elizabeth Alcroft receiving 469 votes.

Kirkwood said he was "eager to get to work" following his election.

"I'm very excited, I'm eager to get to work for the community and for the bettering of Harraby South."

Conservative candidate Rob Currie finished third in the poll with 236 votes.

Green Party candidate Rose-Ellen Kemp received 29 votes, followed by Liberal Democrat Stuart Kelly with 23.

Asked what issues he would address in the area, Kirkwood said roads and infrastructure issues, such as potholes and drains, would be a priority.

"The roads around Harraby South, there's a lot of disarray.

"A lot of people have also had issues with drains and smells coming from urban areas.

"We need to tackle the stuff that's been ignored for several years."

Kirkwood said he believed Reform would bring "fresh ideas" to Cumberland Council and he felt confident he would be joined by more colleagues in the future.

"With this victory, I believe we've got the momentum with us and I'm very, very confident that we will continue that into the local elections and the mayoral election," he said.

Cumbria's first mayoral election will take place in May 2027 in conjunction with the county's local elections.

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