The Liberal Democrats have comfortably held the Bridport ward seat on Dorset Council following the by-election held on Thursday 21st May 2026.

The contest was triggered following the death of Liberal Democrat councillor Dave Bolwell, with four parties contesting the seat in what had become a closely watched local election in Dorset.

Full Bridport By-Election Result

The final result saw Liberal Democrat candidate Paddy Mooney secure a clear victory ahead of Reform UK, the Green Party and the Conservatives.

Results

  • Paddy Mooney (Liberal Democrats) – 2,190 votes
  • Jason Holt (Reform UK) – 1,164 votes
  • Kelvin Charles Clayton (Green Party) – 1,011 votes
  • Una Mary Christopher (Conservative) – 656 votes

The result means the Liberal Democrats retain their representation in Bridport and continue their strong run of performances across parts of West Dorset.

Turnout Figures

Voter turnout in the Bridport ward by-election was reported at 42.62%, reflecting solid engagement for a standalone local council by-election.

Political observers had been watching closely to see whether Reform UK could build momentum in the area, but the Liberal Democrats maintained a sizeable lead.

The Candidates

Four candidates stood in the election:

  • Paddy Mooney – Liberal Democrats
  • Jason Holt – Reform UK
  • Kelvin Charles Clayton – Green Party
  • Una Mary Christopher – Conservative Party

The by-election used the traditional first-past-the-post voting system, with voters selecting one candidate.

What The Result Means

The victory will be viewed as another positive result for the Liberal Democrats in Dorset, where the party has built a strong local base in recent years.

Meanwhile, Reform UK secured second place ahead of the Greens and Conservatives, continuing the party’s push for support in local elections across England.

The Green Party also posted a notable result by passing the 1,000-vote mark, while the Conservatives finished fourth in the contest.

The Bridport ward forms part of a wider political battleground in Dorset, with local elections increasingly seeing competition between the Liberal Democrats, Greens and Reform UK as traditional voting patterns continue to shift.