Politics · United Kingdom · 3 hrs ago
Labour takes Shepshed council seat from Reform UK in by-election
Labour candidate Jane Lennie narrowly won a county council by-election in Shepshed, Leicestershire, taking the seat from Reform UK.
She received 1,163 votes, 53 more than Reform candidate Stuart Wood, and the result was confirmed after a recount.
The contest was triggered by the resignation of Reform councillor Helen Butler in August.
Reform had won the seat in 2025 with about 45% of the vote, while Labour’s share rose from about 18% to about 33% this time.
The result gives Labour a local boost, but one council by-election cannot show whether support is shifting nationally.
Reform remains the largest party on Leicestershire County Council, with 23 of its 53 seats, and runs the council as a minority administration.
Labour now has three councillors at County Hall; no further election or next step is specified.
Labour won the Shepshed division of Leicestershire County Council from Reform UK in a by-election.
Jane Lennie received 1,163 votes, beating Reform candidate Stuart Wood by 53.
The result was confirmed after a recount requested by Reform because of the narrow margin.
The by-election followed the resignation of Reform councillor Helen Butler in August.
Reform remains the largest party on the county council, with 23 of its 53 seats.
- Who
- Labour candidate Jane Lennie won, defeating Reform UK candidate Stuart Wood.
- What
- Labour took the Shepshed county council seat from Reform UK in a by-election.
- When
- Voters went to the polls on Thursday; the result was confirmed after a recount.
- Where
- The Shepshed division of Leicestershire County Council, England.
- Why
- The by-election was triggered by the resignation of Reform councillor Helen Butler in August.
Labour
Reform UK
Reason for the result
Labour
Labour group leader Jewel Miah said voters chose Labour because they felt let down by Reform.
Reform UK
Stuart Wood said votes for Restore Britain had helped Labour win.
Effect of Restore Britain votes
Labour
Restore Britain candidate Alex McKenzie received 228 votes, more than Labour’s 53-vote winning margin.
Reform UK
Wood said: “It shows if you vote Restore, you get Labour.
Helen Butler won the Shepshed seat for Reform with 44.9% of the vote.
Butler resigned, triggering the by-election.
Voters elected Jane Lennie, who beat Stuart Wood by 53 votes.
Reform requested a recount, after which the result was confirmed.
- Winner
- Jane Lennie, Labour
- Labour votes
- 1,163
- Reform votes
- 1,110
- Winning margin
- 53 votes
- Turnout
- 29.65%
- Reform seats on county council
- 23 of 53
3 sources
What people are saying
The people of Shepshed have spoken and have chosen Labour to represent them because they felt let down by Reform
It shows if you vote Restore, you get Labour.
This result shows there is a renewed faith in the Labour Party but we know we still have a lot of work to do.