The Liberal Democrats have called their Mid Devon by-election win a “massive endorsement” of their approach after taking a seat previously held by the Conservatives. Alex White took the Upper Yeo and Taw seat for the Lib Dems with 405 votes – equivalent to 52 per cent of the vote – with the Conservatives’ Peter Heal securing 226 votes (29 per cent).
Labour’s Hayden Sharp came third with 12 per cent of the vote, and the Green Party’s Mark Scotland came fourth with seven per cent of the vote. The by-election was prompted by the decision by Conservative Councillor Stuart Penny to step down for personal reasons.
Steve Keable, (Lib Dem, Taw Vale), cabinet member for planning and economic regeneration, said the win shows his party’s approach is supported by the electorate. “This is a massive endorsement of the way that we are trying to bring people together,” he said. “It very much reflects what we found on the doorstep when we were canvassing.”
Cllr Keable added that the party had managed to produce a budget for the forthcoming 2024/25 financial year that did not rely on the use of reserves, something that was happening in the authority for the “first time in years”. The by-election win means the Lib Dems now have 33 seats on the 42-seat council. The Conservatives have four seats, with the Green Party holding three, with two Independents.
| Name of Candidate | Description (if any) | Number of Votes* |
|---|---|---|
| HEAL, Peter John | The Conservative Party Candidate | 226 |
| SCOTLAND, Kenneth Mark commonly known as SCOTLAND, Mark | Green Party | 54 |
| SHARP, Hayden | Labour Party | 91 |
| WHITE, Alex | Liberal Democrats | 405 Elected |
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