Reform UK has held onto its stronghold in the Gateshead ward of High Fell with a by-election victory by a razor-thin margin of just five votes. Newly elected councillor Lindsay Atkinson secured 564 ballots, fending off Labour challenger Kathryn Walker, a former councillor, in a result so close it required a recount.
Councillor Atkinson: 'People Want Change'
Councillor Atkinson said: “I think winning the by-election solidified what people think about Reform locally because that is what this has all been about, it’s not about national politics, it’s local politics. This is an area that Labour has dominated for decades, and this shows that people want to see some change.” She added: “We have been in control, effectively, for five or six weeks, but talk is cheap, and we certainly need to deliver for the residents who have put their faith in us.”
Full Results and Turnout
The full list of candidates and votes: Jonathan Aibi (Liberal Democrat) 98, Lindsay Atkinson (Reform UK) 564, Elaine Brunskill (Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition) 36, Barry Malcolm Flux (Conservative) 79, Lee Turner (Green) 71, and Kathryn Dorothea Walker (Labour) 559. Turnout was 21%.
Labour's Response
Labour group leader Councillor John Adams said: “This was a seat that Reform won very easily at the local elections, they won with a very high margin. Less than a month later, they are down to five votes.” He continued: “We know we lost the local election, we have got a lot of work to do, and we are determined to do that. We came within five votes of taking this by-election in one of Reform’s safest seats.”
Council Composition and By-Election Trigger
Gateshead Council’s political composition now stands at Reform with 38 seats, the Liberal Democrats with 13, Labour with 12, and the Greens with 3. The by-election was triggered after Reform UK’s previously successful candidate Danielle Cavanagh stood down shortly after being elected in the all-out local elections in May to expand her business venture. Councillor Atkinson noted: “Danielle expanded her business, and she was mindful that she could not support the residents any more, she did the right thing.”
Funding and Historical Context
Gateshead Council’s Reform UK majority previously stated it would fund the cost of the by-election by having one of its cabinet members forgo their special responsibility allowance. Reform took majority control of Gateshead Council in May 2026 in an all-out election, marking the first time in over 50 years that the council was not under Labour administration.
Liberal Democrat Perspective
Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, Councillor Ron Beadle, said: “Our excellent candidate, Jonathan Aibi, led us from fourth place in May to third on a night when Labour and Reform squeezed the other parties’ votes. This was a good result for the Lib Dems.”
