Lian Pizzey of the Green Party won a by-election for the Horsley seat on Derbyshire County Council; the poll was held on 20 January 2026 (the result was reported on 21 January 2026). The win could increase Green influence over county decisions that affect roads and bus services in Swadlincote and the surrounding area.
Pizzey defeated Juliette Stevens of Reform UK by 250 votes, taking 1,341 votes to Stevens’s 1,091. According to the BBC, this is the first time the Green Party has gained a seat directly from Reform UK in an English election.
The by-election was triggered by the resignation of Reform councillor Richard Morgan in early November 2025 after a period of ill health. Local campaigners told the Derbyshire Times they wanted a local representative who would be more active in the community; reports noted that residents had been concerned about the absence of a locally engaged county representative.
Although the contest was in the Horsley division, the result has implications for Swadlincote because Derbyshire County Council sets highways and transport budgets. The council’s Highways Capital Programme 2026/27 lists resurfacing and other carriageway and public transport projects that cover Swadlincote, and the Green gain gives the party a greater voice in debates over those county-wide plans.
Pizzey, who is also an Amber Valley Borough councillor, said the result signalled that residents wanted a council prioritising the environment and local services. Local reporting also records Pizzey’s track record opposing large developments that campaigners say would threaten green belt and local green spaces.
