Reform UK wins Scarborough by-election by one vote and ends South Tyneside climate emergency declaration

Reform UK candidate Susan Rumford was elected to the Castle Ward seat on Scarborough Town Council with 251 votes, narrowly beating Labour’s Fiona Stephenson who received 250 votes. The victory leaves the council’s political composition unchanged, with Reform holding 11 of the 15 seats, alongside two Independents and two Labour councillors. Turnout was 15.03% of the 5,455‑person electorate.

In South Tyneside, a council dominated by Reform UK voted 35‑11 to rescind the borough’s 2019 climate‑emergency declaration. The motion, tabled by cabinet member Cllr Steve Smith, argued that “core services, economic growth and the cost of living should take priority over climate targets that are not statutory requirements.” Opposition councillors, including Green Group leader Cllr Rachael Taylor, warned the decision could undermine local climate‑action efforts.