A by-election will be held in the Oldham council ward of Royton North on December 3, following the resignation of former Reform leader Councillor Lewis Quigg on October 23.
Mr Quigg, who had represented Royton North since 2022, resigned from Reform UK mid-investigation, a move confirmed by the party in an official statement. He was one of Reform's first councillors in the borough alongside Sandra Ball and Mark Wilkinson, and led the group into the 2026 local elections, where the party won 13 of the 20 available seats and the most votes.
Leadership change and second by-election
Mr Quigg was replaced as leader of the borough's second-largest group in September by Mark Wilkinson, who himself resigned later that month citing health issues. Oldham Reform is now led by Waterhead councillor Paul Taylor.
The Royton North by-election will be the second this year, with another election scheduled for November 12 to replace Mr Wilkinson.
Key dates and voting information
Candidates must be nominated by November 6, with the list announced on November 9. Voters must register by November 17, and polls will be open on November 3 between 7am and 10pm.
Reform won Royton North in the 2026 local elections with 59% of the vote, while Labour came second with 13.8%. The Conservatives had previously held the seat. According to political forecaster Britain Elects, Royton North was one of eight wards won by Reform in the Greater Manchester Mayor by-election held in July, where the party took 38% of the vote against Labour's 34.3%.
Quigg's resignation statement
In a public statement on his Facebook profile on October 23, Lewis Quigg said: “Following a break abroad where I have been out of contact with ongoings at home, the past 48 hours have put immense pressure on my immediate family. A line I am not allowing to be crossed.”
He added: “I have made the decision following a discussion with them to resign as a councillor completely. I intend to leave politics completely as I wish to lead a private life away from public life and politics.”
The Oldham branch of Reform also issued a statement on Facebook, confirming Quigg's resignation with immediate effect, citing “a difference of perspective regarding internal policy matters.”
