Live blog – town council by-elections for Newbury Town Council Wash Common and Thatcham Town Council
Our reporter Cameron and photographer Phil are live at the count to bring you all the news as it happens.
1am
That’s all from us tonight folks.
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12.50am
The Greens have made a gain in Newbury Town Council, bringing their total of councillors up to three and winning a seat from the Lib Dems who dominate the rest of the council.
The Liberal Democrats on Thatcham Town Council have retained their seat in the North East ward.
12.32am
Graham Storey (Green) won 923 votes, Archna Datta (Conservative) won 367 votes, Simon Kirby (independent) won 315 votes, and Emily Hayes (Lib Dem) won 486 votes.
12.27am
Green candidate Graham Storey wins the Wash Common by-election.
In his victory speech, he thanked Wash Commoners for coming out to vote in the rain, the other candidates for their campaigns, the electoral staff for running the election, and his supporters.
He also thanked Green councillor David Marsh, and stated that he wished to emulate him in his new councillor role.
12.12am
Lib Dem district councillor Martin Colston (Newbury Central) said the party was “delighted” with Dave Lunn’s victory.
He said: “As it was his first campaign we are very proud of what he has done and the whole team as well.”
Mr Colston said that Thatcham’s local plan played very heavily into Mr Lunn’s victory.
He added: “Dave is going to join a very strong team of Lib Dems on the council who will carry on delivering for the residents of Thatcham.”
12.05am
Richard Crumley (Conservative) received 373 votes, Gary Johnson (UKIP) received 95 votes, and Dave Lunn (Lib Dem) won the by-election with 692 votes.
12am
Dave Lunn wins in Thatcham. The Liberal Democrat candidate has won the seat in the Thatcham North East ward.
Mr Lunn thanked his team for helping run his campaign as well as the other candidates for their work in the by-election.
He ended his victory speech by saying “It is great to win”.
11.40pm
2,097 votes were cast in the Wash Common by-election from an electorate of 7,081.
This was a 29.61 per cent turn out, a fact that prompted some surprised exclamations from those present.
11.21pm
1,164 votes were cast in the Thatcham North East ward by-election which was a 21.58 per cent turn out.
11.10pm
There are several representatives of all the relevant political parties here tonight, including West Berkshire Council leader and Lib Dem parliamentary candidate Lee Dillon and opposition leader and Conservative parliamentary candidate Ross Mackinnon.
10.53pm
The election count is underway.
10.50pm
All the ballot boxes have arrived and we have been let into the council chambers. The count is about to commence!
10.05pm
If you need a refresher on who is standing in these by-elections, there are four candidates in Newbury and three in Thatcham.
In Wash Common, Archna Datta is standing for the Conservatives, Emily Hayes is standing for the Liberal Democrats, Simon Kirby is standing as an independent and Graham Storey is standing for the Greens.
To find out more about all four of these candidates, read our profile story here.
In Thatcham, there is Conservative candidate Richard Crumly, UKIP candidate Gary Johnson and Liberal Democrat candidate Dave Lunn.
To find out more about these three, read their profiles here.
9.50pm
Good evening. We are currently stationed at the West Berkshire Council Offices awaiting the election count to begin.
There are two seats up for grabs in today’s by-elections. One seat in the Wash Common ward on Newbury Town Council, and one seat in the Thatcham North East ward on Thatcham Town Council.