Council by-election · Thursday, 1 October 2026
Blackpool Borough: Claremont ward
7 candidates. Same page for each, in ballot-paper order.
At the election of Thursday, 4 May 2023, this seat was won by 34 votes (2% of votes cast); turnout was 21%. Past results describe the past; each election is a new contest.
about these dates
- Calculated from the statutory election timetable (working days before polling day).
- Confirm against the council's official notice.
Describe a household. Yours, a friend's, a neighbour's. Then each candidate's page shows what applies.
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This is a council seat. A councillor's win changes what the council decides: council tax, housing repairs and allocations, planning, social care, schools admissions, parking, bins, libraries. It does not change national tax, benefits or NHS policy, so this page shows only positions published for this council election, and no national party pledges are implied.
No sourced positions have been published for this ballot yet, so every candidate shows the same empty slots. Every claim that appears carries its source, date and exact quotation; see the public ledger.
Compare candidates side by side
How this vote is counted: first past the post. One cross; the candidate with the most votes wins.Worked example
Every ballot with one cross is counted for that candidate. The one with the most votes wins, even without a majority. Example: A 4,000, B 3,900, C 2,100. A wins with 40% of the vote; the 60% cast for others elect nobody. There are no second preferences; a vote for a candidate who does not win has no further effect.
Kevan Michael Benfold
Liberal Democrats
ShowHideMoney —Housing —Health —Education —Environment —Immigration —Crime —Defence & EU —Equality —0 in total
Kevan Michael Benfold
Liberal Democrats
In their own words
No statement to voters supplied to Democracy Club.
Where this information comes from
Positions are quoted from the candidate's or party's own published material and official records, each with its source. Candidates and their agents can also submit sourced statements, published as written once we confirm they appear at the cited address. Submit a statement.
Published positions on the nine topics
Nothing published that we could source, yet. A councillor sits on the council that sets council tax and decides planning, housing repairs and allocations, social care, bins, parking, libraries and, in most areas, school admissions. It cannot change national tax, benefits or NHS policy.
- Are you this candidate, or their agent? Send us a sourced statement; it is published as written.
- Look yourself: the council's election notices · the party's site · leaflets archived for this area (electionleaflets.org, a Democracy Club project).
Paula Brooksbank
Restore Britain
ShowHideMoney —Housing —Health —Education —Environment —Immigration —Crime —Defence & EU —Equality —0 in total
Paula Brooksbank
Restore Britain
In their own words
No statement to voters supplied to Democracy Club.
Where this information comes from
Positions are quoted from the candidate's or party's own published material and official records, each with its source. Candidates and their agents can also submit sourced statements, published as written once we confirm they appear at the cited address. Submit a statement.
Published positions on the nine topics
Nothing published that we could source, yet. A councillor sits on the council that sets council tax and decides planning, housing repairs and allocations, social care, bins, parking, libraries and, in most areas, school admissions. It cannot change national tax, benefits or NHS policy.
- Are you this candidate, or their agent? Send us a sourced statement; it is published as written.
- Look yourself: the council's election notices · the party's site · leaflets archived for this area (electionleaflets.org, a Democracy Club project).
Mark Butcher
Reform UK
ShowHideMoney —Housing —Health —Education —Environment —Immigration —Crime —Defence & EU —Equality —0 in total
Mark Butcher
Reform UK
In their own words
Blackpool South is an opportunity for the constituents of Blackpool South constituency to send the strongest message to Westminster that they want change, they want traditional values, they want lower taxes, economic growth and opportunity for all, not just for multinational business. People want border control, economic competence, fairness, real equality, not artificial DEI targets, quotas and positive discrimination.
On the 4th of July, in Blackpool South, vote for Mark Butcher, vote Reform UK.
Mark Butcher, founder of Christian soup kitchen, Amazing Graze has been announced as the Reform UK prospective parliamentary candidate for the Blackpool South Constituency by election to be held on July 4th 2024.
Where this information comes from
Positions are quoted from the candidate's or party's own published material and official records, each with its source. Candidates and their agents can also submit sourced statements, published as written once we confirm they appear at the cited address. Submit a statement.
Published positions on the nine topics
Nothing published that we could source, yet. A councillor sits on the council that sets council tax and decides planning, housing repairs and allocations, social care, bins, parking, libraries and, in most areas, school admissions. It cannot change national tax, benefits or NHS policy.
- Are you this candidate, or their agent? Send us a sourced statement; it is published as written.
- Look yourself: the council's election notices · the party's site · leaflets archived for this area (electionleaflets.org, a Democracy Club project).
Katie Helen Donnelli-Hunn
Labour Party
ShowHideMoney —Housing —Health —Education —Environment —Immigration —Crime —Defence & EU —Equality —0 in total
Katie Helen Donnelli-Hunn
Labour Party
In their own words
This summer, Claremont lost a dedicated public servant, Councillor Ivan Taylor, who served local people for over 50 years.
As Claremont looks to the future, I believe residents deserve a councillor who will continue to put local people first.
I was born and raised in Blackpool, and this town has shaped so much of who I am. We have so much to be proud of and I believe there is something special about Claremont.
Claremont itself has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. I came here for workshops at Blackpool Central Library as a child, attended my first Blackpool Youth Council event here, recorded music at Rock Hard Studios, and have spent more family nights than I can count at Funny Girls. They might seem like small things, but they’re the memories that make somewhere feel like home and they’re part of why standing to represent Claremont feels so personal to me.
One of my core values is I feel passionately about people being heard, treated fairly, and supported when they need it. It’s what led me to study Law, to volunteer in legal advice centres helping people who couldn’t afford legal support, and ultimately to the work I do today.
I now work as a caseworker, helping people who are often dealing with some of the most difficult moments in their lives. That can mean working with councils, housing providers and public services, navigating systems that can feel impossible to navigate alone, or simply making sure somebody’s voice isn’t ignored.
And that work has taught me what good representation really looks like. It’s about listening properly, taking people seriously, showing up and sticking with an issue until you’ve done everything you can to get something changed.
That’s the kind of councillor I want to be for Claremont.
Where this information comes from
Positions are quoted from the candidate's or party's own published material and official records, each with its source. Candidates and their agents can also submit sourced statements, published as written once we confirm they appear at the cited address. Submit a statement.
Published positions on the nine topics
Nothing published that we could source, yet. A councillor sits on the council that sets council tax and decides planning, housing repairs and allocations, social care, bins, parking, libraries and, in most areas, school admissions. It cannot change national tax, benefits or NHS policy.
- Are you this candidate, or their agent? Send us a sourced statement; it is published as written.
- Look yourself: the council's election notices · the party's site · leaflets archived for this area (electionleaflets.org, a Democracy Club project).
Rob Jones
Green Party
ShowHideMoney —Housing —Health —Education —Environment —Immigration —Crime —Defence & EU —Equality —0 in total
Rob Jones
Green Party
In their own words
*Claremont Deserves Better*
Too long have we have not been listened to with our concerns. We deserve the opportunity to be proud of our area but at this moment the council have not been interested in helping. There is litter everywhere, dirty alleys and dog poo. For myself and a lot of residents we have to dodge this mess every time we leave the front door of our homes.
I want to see a cleaner Claremont, we need our Parks to be clean and safe.
As someone who grew up in Claremont and still lives here, I feel what the rest of us feel on a day to day basis.
*Mental Health* is another important topic to me, I think organising more social events in the community, clubs and projects.
*The Cost of Living* we all are feeling the pinch of it. I would like to work on assisting the cost of living for Claremont.
As your councillor, I will be the first to hold up my hands and state I’m not infallible, I won’t always know the answer immediately but what I can promise is that I will go out of my way to learn, research and come up with my own answer. I will be your representative, I will listen to you and always fight your corner.
Where this information comes from
Positions are quoted from the candidate's or party's own published material and official records, each with its source. Candidates and their agents can also submit sourced statements, published as written once we confirm they appear at the cited address. Submit a statement.
Published positions on the nine topics
Nothing published that we could source, yet. A councillor sits on the council that sets council tax and decides planning, housing repairs and allocations, social care, bins, parking, libraries and, in most areas, school admissions. It cannot change national tax, benefits or NHS policy.
- Are you this candidate, or their agent? Send us a sourced statement; it is published as written.
- Look yourself: the council's election notices · the party's site · leaflets archived for this area (electionleaflets.org, a Democracy Club project).
Kim Sherrie Knight
Independent
ShowHideMoney —Housing —Health —Education —Environment —Immigration —Crime —Defence & EU —Equality —0 in total
Kim Sherrie Knight
Independent
In their own words
No statement to voters supplied to Democracy Club.
Where this information comes from
Positions are quoted from the candidate's or party's own published material and official records, each with its source. Candidates and their agents can also submit sourced statements, published as written once we confirm they appear at the cited address. Submit a statement.
Published positions on the nine topics
Nothing published that we could source, yet. A councillor sits on the council that sets council tax and decides planning, housing repairs and allocations, social care, bins, parking, libraries and, in most areas, school admissions. It cannot change national tax, benefits or NHS policy.
- Are you this candidate, or their agent? Send us a sourced statement; it is published as written.
- Look yourself: the council's election notices · leaflets archived for this area (electionleaflets.org, a Democracy Club project).
John Jake Thomson
Local Conservatives
ShowHideMoney —Housing —Health —Education —Environment —Immigration —Crime —Defence & EU —Equality —0 in total
John Jake Thomson
Local Conservatives
In their own words
No statement to voters supplied to Democracy Club.
Where this information comes from
Positions are quoted from the candidate's or party's own published material and official records, each with its source. Candidates and their agents can also submit sourced statements, published as written once we confirm they appear at the cited address. Submit a statement.
Published positions on the nine topics
Nothing published that we could source, yet. A councillor sits on the council that sets council tax and decides planning, housing repairs and allocations, social care, bins, parking, libraries and, in most areas, school admissions. It cannot change national tax, benefits or NHS policy.
- Are you this candidate, or their agent? Send us a sourced statement; it is published as written.
- Look yourself: the council's election notices · the party's site · leaflets archived for this area (electionleaflets.org, a Democracy Club project).
Last time in this seat: election of Thursday, 4 May 2023
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ivan John Taylor (elected) | Labour Party | 538 | 31.4% |
| Lynn Suzanne Williams (elected) | Labour Party | 504 | 29.5% |
| Harry George Gordon | Conservative and Unionist Party | 222 | 13% |
| Lawrence Anthony Sloman | Conservative and Unionist Party | 179 | 10.5% |
| Garry Michael Richardson | Independent | 144 | 8.4% |
| Sue Close | Liberal Democrats | 124 | 7.2% |
1,711 valid votes, turnout 21%. Result data from Democracy Club (source). Past results describe the past; each election is a new contest.
Blackpool Borough: Claremont ward in numbers
Recorded crime nearby, July 2026
1,091 street-level crimes recorded within about a mile of the area's centre.
- violent crime: 497
- anti social behaviour: 196
- criminal damage arson: 70
- other theft: 69
- public order: 69
- shoplifting: 52
Go deeper: independent sources
Cross-cutting: polling, fact-checking, parliamentary research
- Commons Library: constituency data dashboards
- electionleaflets.org: archive of election leaflets, searchable by area
- Electoral Commission: political finance register (donations, loans, spending)
- Full Fact
- House of Commons Library research briefings
- Institute for Government
- Ipsos Issues Index: what the public says matters most
- LG Inform: council performance and finance data
- Local Elections Archive Project: every council result since 2002
- mySociety Local Intelligence Hub: data by constituency
- UK Parliament: Commons votes (every division, how each MP voted)
- UK Parliament: petitions, with signatures by constituency