Labour has retained Blackpool’s Claremont council seat, with Katie Donnelli-Hunn defeating Reform UK in a closely fought by-election.
Donnelli-Hunn received 458 votes, ahead of Reform candidate Mark Butcher on 419 — a majority of 39. Labour secured 41.79% of valid votes, compared with Reform’s 38.23%, in the election held on Thursday 1 October.
Speaking after the result, Donnelli-Hunn thanked residents for putting their confidence in her. “It really means the world to me,” she told The Blackpool Lead.
She pledged to work with the council and local organisations to earn residents’ continued trust.
‘Back to work tomorrow’
The by-election followed the death of Labour councillor Ivan Taylor, who had represented the town for decades. Council leader Lynn Williams spoke about the emotional significance of campaigning without her longstanding colleague.
Williams thanked those who backed Labour’s candidate while stressing that the party’s responsibility extends to every resident: “we’re there to represent everybody and it’s back to work tomorrow.”
Seven candidates contested the vacancy. Restore Britain finished third with 79 votes, followed by the Conservatives on 62, the Greens on 44, the Liberal Democrats on 18 and an independent on 16. Official turnout was 22.02%.
