Reform sweep to victory in local by-election

REFORM UK has taken its first seat on Redcar and Cleveland Council after its candidate Craig Holmes topped polling in the Skelton East ward.

- By STUART ARNOLD

A vacancy was created after Conservative councillor Andy Oliver stepped down.

Reform UK picked up more than 65% of the vote with Conservative candidate Julie Craig trailing in third place.

The ward has traditionally been held by the Tories, but the success for Nigel Farage’s Reform was not unexpected with its popularity surging in national opinion polls.

Councillor Holmes, an Army veteran who served with the Royal Engineers, received 839 votes (65.3% share), Labour 's Norman MacLeod 247 votes (19.2%), Mrs Craig 179 votes (13.9%), while Liberal Democrat Stuart Saunders only received 19 votes (1.5%).