Reform UK gains first seat in Eastbourne as Lib Dems retain most seats

Reporting and editing by Rebecca Maer, Eastbourne Reporter

Analysis, data and graphics by Paul Bromley, Eastbourne Reporter

Reform UK has its first county councillor in Eastbourne.

Roy Peche gained Sovereign from the Conservatives as the party had a strong showing across the town.

The Liberal Democrats held on to their county council representation while the Conservatives took only one area as their share of the vote was well down in all seats. Overall turnout was 43.9% - up from 36.56% when the last East Sussex County Council elections were held in May 2021.

Our interactive map, below, shows the results in all nine voting areas.

Sovereign

The previously safest Tory seat in Eastbourne fell to Reform UK. Conservative Penny di Cara was defeated by Reform's Roy Peche who becomes the first member of his party to hold elected office in the town.

Defeated Conservative Penny di Cara told Eastbourne Reporter: "I knew it was going to be very close. I think it is the national picture and I don't take it as a personal slight." She remains a Conservative member of Eastbourne borough council.

Ratton

Veteran Conservative councillor Colin Belsey squeaked home with just 40 more votes than his Lib Dem challenger Jim Murray. Many Tory strategists had thought during the count that Cllr Belsey was likely to be defeated.

Meads

A shocked Jack Morrell, 23, won the seat for the Liberal Democrats against a strong challenge from both Conservatives and Reform UK.

He told Eastbourne Reporter: "I am delighted and thank the people of Meads for putting their trust in me. It is mainly down to the hard work from the whole team."

Brett Wright, who previously represented Meads as a Liberal Democrat then Green councillor, came fourth with an increased share of the vote for the Greens.

The Conservatives won Meads in 2021 and it was then represented by Brett Wright as a Liberal Democrat from the August 2023 by-election until January this year when he defected to the Greens.

Devonshire

Eastbourne borough council leader Stephen Holt was well ahead of his nearest challenger from Reform UK. The Greens pushed the Conservatives down into fourth place.

Cllr Holt told Eastbourne Reporter: "I would like to say thank you to the town - it has been a good day for us. We are really grateful for the continued support."

St Anthony's

Hugh Parker won the seat for the Lib Dems in an area previously represented at county level by former EBC leader David Tutt. Reform UK came second with the Tories well behind in third place.

Old Town

Eastbourne borough councillor Peter Diplock has now been elected to East Sussex County Council. He easily won the area with more than half the votes. Reform UK pushed the Conservatives into third as voters switched their allegiance in large numbers.

Upperton

Kathy Ballard, a borough councillor, won for the Lib Dems in the area previously represented at county council level by Pat Rodohan. Reform were in second, pushing the Conservatives into third.

Hampden Park

Colin Swansborough was re-elected in Hampden Park as an East Sussex county councillor with an increased share of the vote as Reform UK took second place. The Conservatives trailed in third with a huge fall in their share of the vote compared with last time.

Cllr Swansborough told Eastbourne Reporter: "Obviously a challenge from Reform was something we had to deal with. We found a large number of people in Hampden Park were anti-Reform."

Langney

In Langney, Alan Shuttleworth was re-elected - again with Reform UK breathing down Lib Dem necks. The Lib Dem share of the vote was down as voters flocked to Nigel Farage's party.

Cllr Shuttleworth told Eastbourne Reporter: "I'm pleased with the result. I would like to thank the people of Langney for putting their confidence in me again. I shall work hard for the community - there is much to be done."

More than 75,000 people in Eastbourne were eligible to vote for a county councillor in nine voting areas.

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