Reform faces two key by-election tests in Robert Jenrick's backyard in bid to demolish 'uniparty' vote

Reform faces two by-election tests in Robert Jenrick's backyard in bid to demolish 'uniparty' vote Nigel Farage's party is being handed the chance to defeat Andy Burnham and Kemi Badenoch in one fell swoop Sign up to the Politics Newsletter I agree to receive updates and information about my account, the GB News Community, and related products and services from GB News. Email address Sign up By signing up you agree to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy and Community Rules.

Thank you for signing up! See the latest from GB News here . Choose GB News on Google - add us as a preferred source Choose GB News Support GB News Champion free speech and independent journalism while unlocking exclusive benefits. Support us Reform UK is facing two key by-election tests in Robert Jenrick's backyard as Nigel Farage eyes up a chance to demolish support for the "uniparty". Voters are due to head to the polls across six areas tomorrow, two of which Reform UK is hoping to see off support for Labour and the Conservative Party.

Residents will have their say over in Newark and Sherwood to elect a new representative for Tory stronghold Dover Beck, which last went to the polls in 2023. Three years ago, the Tory candidate took home 71 per cent of the vote, while Labour snapped up 29 per cent in the two-horse race. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say But this week's contest is all to play for as the three mainstream parties are joined by rivals from the Greens and Reform UK as well.

The local contest will be the second electoral test for Mr Jenrick, Reform's Treasury spokesman, ever since he joined the populist party 10 months ago. Last month, Mr Farage's party stormed to victory in nearby East Markham on Bassetlaw District Council when Cllr Matthew Evans secured almost half of the votes cast. "An incredible 44 per cent swing from Tory to Reform in Newark," Mr Jenrick grinned, pictured next to the newly-elected councillor.

The upcoming contest will act as a litmus test for Reform support in the Newark constituency | GETTY "So proud of our candidate, Matthew Evans and my hardworking team. Deeply honoured that my Newark constituents are backing Reform," he added. This Thursday, Britons will also cast their vote for another representative on the authority when Labour MP Jo White stepped down after nabbing a position in Andy Burnham's Cabinet last month. Last time voters headed to the polls was three years ago when Labour won 71 per cent of the vote, and the Tories came second with 29 per cent.

Like Newark and Sherwood, the Tories, Labour, Reform and the Greens are standing a candidate. However, a candidate from Restore Britain is standing as well. In this week's preview, GB News takes a look at what's to come this Thursday. POLITICS LATEST: Andy Burnham's Brexit U-turn sparks Cabinet civil war as PM undermines Shabana Mahmood again Downing Street refuses to rule out Harry Kane receiving a knighthood after his Ballon d'Or triumph Andy Burnham meets Muslim leaders and takes veiled swipe at Nigel Farage Last month, Mr Farage's party stormed to victory in nearby East Markham on Bassetlaw District Council | REFORM UK Mid Argyl on Argyll & Bute Council Voters last cast their ballot in 2022 as they voted in an Independent candidate (with 34.7 per cent).

The SNP won 30 per cent, while the Tories trailed behind on 11 per cent and Labour on 4.8 per cent. The contest was called after the previously elected member died. FULL LIST OF CANDIDATES: SNP - Andy Buntin Restore Britain - George Love Liberal Democrats - Douglas MacDonald Reform UK - Kaine McConnell Independent - David Charles Moncrieff Independence for Scotland Party - Fiona Nelson Conservative and Unionist Party - Colvin Osborn Worksop East, Bassetlaw District Council Announcing her plan to stand down, Ms White said: "I have stepped down as a councillor on Bassetlaw District Council after taking advice from senior officials.

"My ministerial responsibilities can, at times, overlap with the work of local government, creating the risk of potential conflicts of interest between the two roles. "I believe stepping down is the right decision." FULL LIST OF CANDIDATES: Anne Froggatt - Restore Britain Cameron Holt - Labour Party Anne Kean - Green Party Ben Storey - Conservative Party Nancy Wright - Reform UK St James, Dudley Council After being elected in May, Reform UK councillor Ivor Robinson stood down from the ward for personal reasons.

The resignation triggered a by-election in the ward which is also represented by Labour councillors Asif Ahmed and Cathryn Bayton. Dudley Reform's deputy leader, Cllr Shaun Keasey, said: "We're fully supportive of Ivor, he has taken the decision for his own personal reasons and we absolutely support that. "There is no animosity, we will keep supporting him whether he represents us as a councillor or not. "We will go into the by-election and we will fight to win it, we will put someone very capable up and we will demonstrate that, whatever people say, Reform is strong in the Black Country."

In May, Labour came a distant second p0lace to Reform, winning just 21 per cent. The Tories took home 14 per cent, while the Greens won 11 per cent of the vote. FULL LIST OF CANDIDATES: Reform UK - Chris Chivers Labour - Caroline Reid Conservative Party - Sam Firmstone Greens - Catherine Poole Restore Britain - Tristian Owens Beechwood & Heath, Halton Council After the councillor died, an election was triggered in Beechwood & Heath. The ward was strongly held by the Liberal Democrats, with the last candidate taking hom 45 per cent of the vote in May.

However, Reform UK's candidate was hot on the party's heels with 39.5 per cent of the vote. The Greens traipsed behind on 13.2 per cent. FULL LIST OF CANDIDATES: Labour - Owen Ashworth Independent - Dan Clarke Restore Britain - Ash Corcoran Conservative and Unionist Party - Luke Jon Hanson Liberal Democrats - Diane Marie Inch Reform UK - Neil Eric Thornton Dover Beck, Newark & Sherwood Council The Tories took home 71 per cent of the vote, while Labour won 29 per cent back in 2023.

The contest was triggered after sitting Tory Councillor, Roger Jackson, died in July. He was a much-loved local representative, serving the area for years as both a district councillor for Dover Beck and a county councillor for the Southwell in Nottinghamshire. FULL LIST OF CANDIDATES: Liberal Democrats - Stephen Andersen Conservative and Unionist Party - Scott Carlton Reform UK - John Albert Hart Labour - Kevin Scoles Greens - Lucy Olivia Spoors Southwell, Nottinghamshire Council The contest over in Nottinghamshire was triggered after the same Tory councillor, Mr Jackson, died over the summer.

The last time Britons had their say was in 2025 when the Tories stormed to victory with 37.5 per cent. Meanwhile, Reform UK won 24.2 per cent, as the Liberal Democrats nabbed 19.7 per cent. Labour won just 13.4 per cent, while the Greens won a mere 5.1 per cent. FULL LIST OF CANDIDATES: Labour - Tracey Jevons-Hazzard Liberal Democrats - Keith Myers Melton Conservative and Unionist Party Penny Rainbow Greens - Matthew Joseph Thomson Spoors Reform UK - Edward Stubbs Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter Exclusive Politics British shopkeepers make last-ditch plea to John Healey amid existential threat from dodgy vape shops Politics Andy Burnham's Brexit U-turn sparks Cabinet civil war as PM undermines Shabana Mahmood again Politics Andy Burnham meets Muslim leaders and takes veiled swipe at Nigel Farage Politics Labour MP 'detained for eight hours' after being denied access to West Bank Politics 'He's wrong!'

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