Conservatives win Valley Gardens by-election

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Conservative Tom Martin has won the Harrogate Town Council by-election for Valley Gardens.

He beat Liberal Democrat Nat Slater by 456 votes to 400.

The Lib Dems were defending the seat, which Edward Metcalfe won with 50% of the vote on May 1 last year when the inaugural town council elections were held.

Reform UK’s Tracey De Wet was a distant third with 105 votes and the Green Party, which fielded candidate Alex Ireland but chose not to campaign, were fourth with 71 votes.

The turnout was 33.9%.

We will have reaction and analysis to the result tomorrow.

RESULT

1 Tom Martin, Conservative Party, 456 votes

2 Nat Slater, Liberal Democrat Party, 400 votes

3 Tracey De Wet, Reform UK, 105 votes

4 Alex Ireland, Green Party, 71 votes