Local By-election Results

In case you haven’t seen them, the results of the by-elections held on 6^th March in St Stephen’s and Gorrell in Canterbury, and neighbouring Herne and Broomfield were that all the wards were held by the sitting parties. The balance of the council has therefore remained unchanged.

Beth Forrester (Labour) was a comfortable winner in St Stephen’s with a majority of 383 and polling 47% of the overall vote. The turnout was 26.4%.

The Green Party held the Gorrell ward in Whitstable polling 49.5% of the ballot with 1210 votes. Valerie Kenny (Labour) came second with 570 votes. Turnout was 28.7%.

In a tighter race than the other two wards, the Conservatives were elected in Herne and Broomfield with 40.7% of the vote – only 84 votes ahead of Reform’s 473 votes (34.5%). Lawrence Coomber came third for Labour with 196 votes.

Full details can be found here: https://www.canterbury.gov.uk/voting-and-elections/election-results-2025

“I’m honoured to have been elected by the residents of St Stephen’s to represent the community I call home. I will return the trust of those who voted for me, and hope to earn the trust of those that did not. I will be a strong voice for all the residents. It’s been fantastic to speak to hundreds of my neighbours throughout the campaign, to listen to their concerns and the issues that matter most to them and their families. Canterbury’s Labour-led council is delivering change and I’m pleased to have been entrusted to join city and county councillors Alister Brady and Mel Dawkins to carry on that great work.”
Beth Forrester

Thank you all for your support

Huge thanks to all the members who helped in the campaign, canvassing and leafleting in all weathers.