REFORM UK have lost two council by-elections in England after being forced to defend their seats when the incumbents stood down.
At the English local elections in May, Reform won 677 seats across the country, of 1600 that were contested at the vote.
It provided a boost to Nigel Farage’s party’s prospects in the polls. They also polled third in the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election weeks later, which was won by Scottish Labour.
But, just a few months later, and two seats the party were forced to defend due to swift resignations from two councillors were taken by other parties.
In Durham, the poll was called when Reform’s Andrew Kilburn stood down after just nine days.
After winning the Benfieldside ward in the May 1 elections, Kilburn resigned after it was discovered he already worked for Durham County Council.
Legislation disqualifies council employees from standing as councillors at the same time.
On Thursday July 3, LibDem Terry Rooney (below) won the by-election with 824 votes, beating Labour’s Kevin Early who returned 800 votes. Reform came third with 747 votes.
"This result confirms that it is only the Liberal Democrats who can beat the Reform Party across County Durham, as both the official opposition group and the strongest electoral force challenging the Reform Party's broken promises."
The by-election is understood to have cost around £22,800.
Rooney added: "I have campaigned for the Reform Party's millionaire backers to pay for the £23,000 of council taxpayers' money they have wasted on this by-election due to their own incompetence nominating an ineligible candidate.
"They must now listen to the people of Consett and Benfieldside and pay back the council taxes that could have been used on play areas, potholes, or helping disabled children."
In Nottinghamshire, Reform UK councillor Desmond Clarke quit just days after winning the local elections and helping the party take control of the local authority.
Reform won 40 of the 66 seats available on Nottinghamshire County Council in May, and will still maintain control of the authority.
And now, the previous Conservative representative for the Newark West division won over Reform with just eight votes.
Keith Girling won with 680 votes, while Reform candidate Caroline Hinds came in second place with 672 votes. Labour placed third with 316 ballots.
Turnout was 21.99 per cent.
Speaking after his win, Girling told the BBC: "It's showing the Conservatives aren't dead. We're alive and kicking and we're going to work hard for our communities.”
He added that the circumstances that led to the by-election definitely had “a bit of an impact”.
"We've knocked on a lot of doors and some of those that voted Reform [in May] were very angry at the fact he resigned," Girling added.
"It's cost about £25,000 to run this election, from a party that said they're going to save money."
