Voters go to the polls tomorrow for Wigmore by-election

A by-election was called after Liberal Democrat councillor Alan Skepelhorn failed to attend any local authority meeting for more than six months.

George Neculalu is the Liberal Democrat Focus Team candidate bidding to retain the seat on the council for the party.

Five other candidates are contesting the vacancy, with Sam Choudhury representing the Conservative and Unionist Party, and Carolyn Cottier standing for the Green Party.

The Reform UK candidate is James Fletcher, Georgia Marcantonio is the Labour Party representative, and Marc Scheimann stands as an Independent candidate.

Polling stations are due to open from 7am until 10pm tomorrow.

Former councillor Skepelhorn was absent from borough council meetings between July 15, 2025 and January 20 this year. This exceeds the six-month attendance requirement for local authority members.

Procedures require “a casual vacancy to be declared” when this happens, in accordance with Section 86 of the Local Government Act, 1972.

Liberal Democrat group leader and Barnfield councillor Amjid Ali said previously: “Alan was at the January 20 full council meeting. But his six-month period was miscalculated by the council and the issue only realised afterwards, so an election has had to be called.”

There are currently 28 Labour councillors, 14 Lib Dems, three Conservatives and two Independents on the local authority.