Reform UK has secured its first seat on Luton Borough Council following a by-election in the Wigmore ward held on 2 April 2026. James Aaron Fletcher won the contest with 576 votes, narrowly defeating the Liberal Democrat candidate George Neculaiu by a margin of 43 votes.
The by-election was triggered after the previous ward councillor, Alan Skepelhorn, was disqualified for failing to attend any council meetings for more than six consecutive months. This absence violated the requirements set out in the Local Government Act 1972, which mandates that a councillor must attend at least one meeting within a six-month period to retain their position. Official records confirm that Mr Skepelhorn did not attend a meeting between 15 July 2025 and 20 January 2026.
Six candidates competed for the seat in a ward that has traditionally been represented by the Liberal Democrats. The final results saw the Green Party candidate, Carolyn Jayne Cottier, finish in third place with 344 votes, followed by Labour candidate Georgia Marcantonio with 170 votes. Sam Choudhury of the Conservative Party received 116 votes, and independent candidate Marc Scheimann received 13 votes.
The total turnout for the election was 25.68 per cent, with 1,754 valid votes cast from an electorate of 6,931. This result marks a notable shift for the Wigmore ward, an area on the outskirts of Luton that includes Luton Airport, which has historically favoured Liberal Democrat representation.
Before this result, the council remained under Labour control, a position the party has held since 2007 under the leadership of Hazel Simmons. The seat vacancy and subsequent by-election were managed by the council’s Returning Officer to ensure the process complied with legal requirements.
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