The Liberal Democrats have won the Alfrick, Leigh & Rushwick by-election for Malvern Hills District Council following Thursday’s vote, gaining the seat from an independent councillor.
Chris McSweeny secured victory for the Liberal Democrats with 452 votes, finishing ahead of Conservative candidate Seb Barbour on 391 votes. Reform UK also posted a strong showing with 340 votes, while two independent candidates and the Green Party split the remaining support.
Full Result – Alfrick, Leigh & Rushwick By-Election
- Liberal Democrats – 452 votes
- Conservatives – 391 votes
- Reform UK – 340 votes
- Independent (Matt Oliver) – 296 votes
- Green Party – 190 votes
- Independent (Tom Clarke) – 83 votes
The result marks a gain for the Liberal Democrats in a ward that had previously been represented by independents. The by-election was triggered after the resignation of an elected councillor earlier this year.
Political observers had been watching the contest closely due to the growing presence of Reform UK in Worcestershire and neighbouring rural areas. The party fielded Max Windsor-Peplow as its candidate and finished third with nearly one in five votes cast.
The ward has historically leaned towards independent representation. In the 2023 local elections, the Malvern Hills Independents comfortably topped the poll with more than 40 per cent of the vote.
The latest result adds another chapter to an increasingly fragmented political picture across rural England, where Liberal Democrats, independents, Conservatives, Greens and Reform UK are all competing strongly in local government contests.