Labour has won two council by-elections in Northumberland, regaining seats lost to Reform in 2025. Melanie Fox and Amy Spriggs were elected as county councillors for Ashington's Hirst ward and Amble respectively, following polls held on Thursday.
The result marks a notable turnaround for Labour, which was reduced to just eight seats in the county at the 2025 local elections, placing it behind both the Conservatives and Reform. While the wins will not significantly alter the overall makeup of the council, they provide a boost for a party that has struggled in the North East since those elections.
Hirst and Amble results
The Hirst by-election was triggered after former councillor John Allen failed to attend any meetings for six months. Allen, who was expelled from Reform after allegedly making online comments threatening former Prime Minister Keir Starmer, stood as an independent and received just 11 votes.
In Hirst, Labour's Melanie Fox won with 350 votes, ahead of Reform UK's Kerry Davison on 210. Eden Webley of Restore Britain took 72 votes, David Ferguson of the Conservatives received 29, Calvin Clark of the Liberal Democrats got 27, and John Allen received 11. Turnout was 21%.
In Amble, Labour's Amy Spriggs won with 439 votes, followed by Reform UK's Warren Ladyman on 379 and Conservative Jenny Richards on 237. Michael Joyce of Restore Britain received 76 votes. Turnout was 31%.
Party reaction
Responding to the results, Northumberland Labour leader Councillor Scott Dickinson said: "I'm absolutely delighted with the results in both Amble and Hirst and incredibly proud of Amy Spriggs and Melanie Fox."
Dickinson praised Spriggs' campaign in Amble, noting her commitment to supporting local people, and highlighted Fox's work as a town councillor. He added: "These results give us two new Labour councillors who are local, committed and ready to get straight to work."
The by-elections also marked the electoral debut of Restore Britain, the right-wing party led by former Reform MP Rupert Lowe. In Hirst, Restore finished ahead of the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats but behind Labour and Reform, while coming fourth in Amble.
