In a recent council by-election, the Conservative Party emerged victorious, marking a significant political shift in the Gnosall and Eccleshall district of Staffordshire County Council. This by-election resulted from the unprecedented circumstance of a councillor from Reform UK stepping down only two weeks after being elected. Jeremy Pert, the Conservative candidate, claimed victory with a commanding 44.4% of the total votes cast.
Pert’s win came with a total of 1,689 votes, while the Green Party followed closely behind with 1,037 votes, which accounted for 27.3% of the tally. The Reform UK party came in third with 938 votes, representing 24.7% of the vote share, and Labour lagged significantly behind, garnering just 140 votes, translating to 3.7%. The voter turnout for this by-election was recorded at 34.8%.
The seat contested by Pert was previously held by Reform UK’s Wayne Titley, who vacated his position amid growing criticism after a controversial Facebook post in March. In this post, Titley suggested that the Navy should take aggressive measures—specifically, using gunfire—to intercept small boats attempting to reach British shores, inciting considerable backlash. Although Titley resigned citing “personal reasons,” he has not publicly addressed the fallout from his remarks, which were subsequently deleted from social media.
Following this election, Reform UK continues to hold a majority within the council. They now have 48 councillors, while the Conservatives occupy 11 seats. Additionally, the Green Party, Labour, and Stafford Borough Independents each hold one seat in the council.
Jeremy Pert, who previously served as an Eccleshall councillor, briefly lost his position to Titley in May’s local elections by a margin of just 27 votes. His extensive political background includes an eight-year tenure as a councillor and previous roles such as a cabinet member of the Conservative administration. Furthermore, Pert is the current opposition group leader at Stafford Borough Council.
In his post-election remarks, Pert expressed gratitude to his campaign team and the election staff, calling the electoral process a “well-oiled machine.” He acknowledged the unexpected need for a by-election, stating, “None of us expected to see a by-election so early on and none of us wanted that,” thanking the constituents of Eccleshall and Gnosall for their participation in the voting process. Pert emphasized his commitment to serving the residents, remarking, “The work starts tomorrow. I have been elected by the residents of Eccleshall and Gnosall and I am here to support them.”
Additionally, this by-election has stirred discussions and speculations about the implications for the support of each party in the region. Analysts may investigate how the fallout from Titley’s tenure might affect Reform UK’s reputation and electability in upcoming elections.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service covered this election, shedding light on the dynamics within local governance and public sentiment toward political parties in Staffordshire County. Follow-ups from various news outlets indicate that this shift in leadership could lead to broader implications across the political landscape, particularly regarding stability and party credibility.
In conclusion, the Conservative Party’s victory in this by-election not only reflects a significant win for Jeremy Pert but also poses questions about the future direction of both the Reform and Green parties. As such, the political narrative in Staffordshire is likely to evolve, with observers keenly watching the developments in the wake of this election outcome.
