Zack Polanski eyes up Labour heartlands in bumper election night while lame duck PM faces leadership limbo

However, in five by-elections, Labour and Greens are battling it out to nab a seat across London, with Mr Polanski looking to take advantage of disillusioned Labour supporters.

The hypnotherapist-turned-London Assembly member, who was dragged into a debate over his tax affairs several weeks ago, is defending four seats tomorrow.

But the fight over London council wards will be joined by clashes over in Wales as well, with nationalist party Plaid Cymru seeking to keep a grip on their authorities, while Reform UK bats off its rival in a bid to defend four seats.

George St / Harbour (Aberdeen)

The by-election in the Scottish city was called after Liberal Democrat Councillor Desmond Buchanan announced his shock resignation.

At Westminster, the constituency is represented by Aberdeen North MP and SNP Chief Whip Kirsty Blackman, who won her seat with a much reduced majority of 1,760 over Labour's Lynn Thomson.

FULL LIST OF CANDIDATES:

• Aamir Azeem - Independent
• Fred Bayer - Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition
• Jordan Brown - Reform UK
• Luke Eveling - Liberal Democrats
• Charlotte Horne - Scottish Greens
• Leon Marwick - SNP
• Edward Obi - Labour
• Marco Oosthusizen - Conservatives
• Konrad Rekas - Alliance to Liberal Scotland

Goldsmid (Brighton & Hove)

Onto the south coast, a by-election will be held after the resignation of former Brighton mayor and Independent Councillor Jackie O’Quinn.

The ward is part of the Hove and Portslade Westminster constituency, currently held by Business Secretary Peter Kyle, who held onto his seat with a majority of 19,881 over Green candidate Sophie Broadbent.

FULL LIST OF CANDIDATES:

• Nadia Barton Ahmad – Green Party
• Philip Berman – Labour Party
• Louis Bird – Conservative Party
• Glenn Kelly – Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition
• Kim Marie Leyland-Walker – Liberal Democrats
• Luke Willmoth – Reform UK

Roman Bank & Peckover (Cambridgeshire)

Into Cambridgeshire, where there will be a by-election in the Roman Bank and Peckover constituency after the resignation of former North East Cambridgeshire Reform Chair Andy Osborn, who quit after posting a "defamatory" social media message about a Conservative candidate.

At Westminster, the seat is represented by former Conservative Health Secretary, Steve Barclay, who held onto his seat in 2024 with a 7,189 majority over Reform's Chris Thornhill.

FULL LIST OF CANDIDATES:

• Benedict Charles Leiws Allen - Labour
• Diane Priscilla Cutler - Liberal Democrats
• Jackie Doyle-Price - Conservatives
• Jonathon Raymond Mark Lilley - Greens
• Chris Tirrell - Reform UK

Llangennech (Carmarthenshire)

Reform will be looking to capitalise their rise in support in Wales, with a by-election in the Llangennech ward, called because the elected member was elected Member of the Senedd, and cannot hold both positions.

The town is represented in Westminster by Labour's Nia Griffith, who held onto her seat in 2024 with a 1,504 majority over Reform's Gareth Beer.

FULL LIST OF CANDIDATES:

• Craig Griffiths - Conservatives
• Iwan Griffiths - Plaid Cymru
• Justin Griffiths - Liberal Democrats
• Sean Hogan - Independent
• Gavin Paul Rashbrook - Reform UK
• Jordan Sargeant - Labour
• Michael Hugh Willis - Greens

Llanrhaeadr-yng-Nghinmeirch (Denbighshire)

Sticking with Wales now, where Plaid Cymru will be hoping to hold onto the Llanrhaeadr-yng-Nghinmeirch ward.

FULL LIST OF CANDIDATES:

• Nigel Deed - Reform UK
• Hefin Edwards - Plaid Cymru
• Ian Evans - Independent
• Cai Williams - Independent
• Beryl Wynne - Conservatives

Rhyl South (Denbighshire)

Just up the road in Rhyl, there will be a by-election after the death of long serving Labour/Independent councillor Jeanette "JJ" Chamberlain-Jones.

At the 2024 General Election, the north Wales town, as part of the Clwyd North constituency, elected Labour's Gill German, who beat future Welsh Conservative leader Darren Millar with a majority of 1,196.

FULL LIST OF CANDIDATES:

• Crispin Jones - Labour
• Keith Kirwan - Liberal Democrats
• Gloria Jane Lambert - Conservatives
• Bleddyn Rhys - Plaid Cymru
• Desmond Gerard Rooney - Greens
• Tony Thomas - Reform UK

North Acton (Ealing)

Down to west London now, where its the first of a triple defence for the Greens in the capital following the sudden resignation of Councillor Simon Anthony.

The ward at Westminster is represented by Labour's Rupa Huq, who has held the corresponding Ealing Central and Acton seat since 2015.

FULL LIST OF CANDIDATES:

• Abdi Ahmed - Liberal Democrat
• Marijn van de Geer - Green Party
• Sally Gorman - Conservative Party
• Jonathan Notley - Reform UK
• Gareth James Shaw - Labour Party
• Craig Smith - Ealing Community Independents-Putting Acton First

Dalston (Hackney)

Heading over to east London now where the Greens are defending two constituencies, with a by-election in Dalston due to the election of Hackney Mayor, the Green Party's Zoë Garbett who cannot hold the ward due to her victory.

The corresponding Hackney South and Shoreditch constituency in Westminster was won in 2024 by Labour's Meg Hillier.

FULL LIST OF CANDIDATES:

• Grace Adebayo - Labour
• Ivon Fleming - Reform UK
• Manal Massalha - Greens
• Peter Munro - Liberal Democrats
• Jerry Sulaiman - Conservatives

Hackney Central (Hackney)

One stop along the Mildmay Overground Line, thee'll be a by-election in the Hackney Central ward after the resignation of Green party candidate James Tilden, who was barred from taking office because his employment as a teacher at a nearby primary school.

FULL LIST OF CANDIDATES:

• Vahid Almasi - Reform UK
• Serhan Bay - Conservatives
• Noah Birksted-Breen - Greens
• Ken Gabbott-Rolph - Liberal Democrats
• Sheila Suso-Runge - Labour

Andy Burnham has returned to Westminster

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Farnworth (Halton)

A by-election is set to take place in Farnworth in Widnes at the end of this month after a Labour councillor Aimee Skinner stepped down citing personal reasons.

At Westminster, the corresponding Widnes and Halewood ward was won in 2024, with long-serving Labour MP Derek Twigg holding onto his seat with a majority of 16,425 votes over Reform's Jake Fraser.

FULL LIST OF CANDIDATES:

• Christopher Charlton-Kingsley - Reform UK
• Dan Clarke - Libertarian Party
• Phil Harper - Conservatives
• Louise Elizabeth Nolan - Labour
• Kiel Joseph Oldfield - Greens

Northumberland Park (Haringey)

The first of a two-parter in the north London borough, with the Greens defending the Northumberland Park sweat after Jayon Henriques, was found to be ineligible to take his seat.

In the Commons, the ward forms part of the Tottenham constituency, currently held by Justice Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister, David Lammy.

FULL LIST OF CANDIDATES:

• Kenny Ajao - Conservatives
• Rose Dakuo - Greens
• Ajda Ovat - Labour
• David Schmitz - Liberal Democrats
• Ian Sinclair - Reform UK

Woodside (Haringey)

Sticking with Haringey where Labour's Hasret Bozdogan, who was elected to represent the party in Woodside ward, will not be taking on her role as councillor for "personal reasons".

At Westminster, the Southgate and Wood Green constituency is represented by Labour's Bambos Charalambous.

FULL LIST OF CANDIDATES:

• Mikeleno Fereraj - Conservatives
• Thayahlan Iyngkaran - Labour
• Ruth Price - Reform UK
• Rakeebah Ukrahim - Liberal Democrats
• Elara Shurety - Greens

Bushey Park (Hertsmere)

Up the A1 now to Hertsmere, where there'll be a by-election in the Bushey Park ward after the death of Liberal Democrat councillor Shailain Shah.

Former Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden is the current Tory MP for the corresponding Hertsmere constituency, having held his seat in 2024 with a majority of 7,992 over Labour's Josh Tapper.

FULL LIST OF CANDIDATES:

• Katie Elman - Reform UK
• Annabel Irene Hennessy - Liberal Democrats
• John Humphries - Greens
• Robin ANdrew Short - Labour
• Linda Silver - Conservatives

East Sutherland & Edderton (Highland)

Up to one of the most northern wards in the UK, where there'll be an election in the East Sutherland and Edderton ward after the resignation of Councillor Jim McGillivray.

Since the 2017 general election, the corresponding Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross constituency has been represented by Jamie Stone of the Liberal Democrats.

FULL LIST OF CANDIDATES:

• Jay Avrey - Reform UK
• Eric De Venny - Scottish Liberal Democrats
• Rebecca Machin - SNP
• John Murray - Independent
• Eva Short - Scottish Conservatives

Dowlais & Pant (Merthyr Tydfil)

Down to Wales now where a by-election was called in Dowlais and Pant because the elected member was elected Member of the Senedd, and cannot hold both positions.

Labour's former Assistant Government Whip Gerald Jones won the corresponding Merthyr Tydfil and Aberdare seat in 2024, with a majority of 7,447 over Reform's Gareth Thomas.

FULL LIST OF CANDIDATES:

• Dean Barrett - Labour
• James Cushen - Plaid Cymru
• Janeen Davies - Greens
• Terry Donegan - Reform UK
• Nick Meaney - Independent
• Roxanne Richardson - Conservatives

Camp Hill (Nuneaton & Bedworth)

Voters will be going to the polls in Camp Hill after former Labour councillor Sharon Dhillon resigned to stand down from her position over health grounds.

At Westminster, Labour's Jodie Gosling took the Nuneaton seat, beating incumbent Conservative MP Marcus Jones with a majority of 3,479.

FULL LIST OF CANDIDATES:

• Eric Amaechi - Labour
• Peter James Gilbert - Reform UK
• Hari Khela - Conservatives

Treorchy (Rhondda Cynon Taf)

Back to Wales, where a by-election was called in the Treorchy ward because the elected member was elected Member of the Senedd at the local elections.

In Westminster, Labour's Trade Minister Chris Bryant is the MP for the recently renamed Rhondda and Ogmore constituency.

FULL LIST OF CANDIDATES:

• Daniel Buck - Greens
• Richard Clarke - Plaid Cymru
• Craig Ford - Reform UK
• David Morris - Labour
• Cerys Walker - Conservatives

Haydock (St Helens)

In Merseyside, there'll be a by-election in Haydock, St Helens after the resignation of Reform Councillor Stephen Mousdell.

St Helens North, a Labour stronghold, has been represented by former Liverpool Deputy Mayor David Baines.

FULL LIST OF CANDIDATES:

• Andrea Marie Blake - Independents
• Tony Devanny - Reform UK
• Owen Farnworth - Labour
• Paul Robert Hooton - Independent
• Amber Carole Johnson - Greens
• Melanie Ann Marie Lee - Conservatives

Stretton (Staffordshire)

On the Staffordshire-Derbyshire border, Reform UK is defending a seat in the Stretton ward in Burton-upon-Trent after the resignation of Barry Martin.

Labour's Jacob Collier is the MP for the newly-created Burton and Uttoxeter constituency, taking the seat off Conservative Kate Kniverton with a majority of 2,266.

FULL LIST OF CANDIDATES:

• Shelagh McKiernan - Labour
• Jack Andrew Mellor Greens
• Bernard Godfrey Peters - Conservatives
• Jonathan Pyke - Reform UK

Dawlish South West (Teignbridge)

Heading down to the south-west coast now where there'll be a by-election in the Dawlish South West ward after the death of veteran Liberal Democrat councillor and former Torbay mayor Mike James.

In 2024, Lib Dem Martin Wrigley managed to defeat long-serving Conservative MP Anne Marie Morris, becoming the MP for Newton Abbot with a majority of 2,246 votes.

FULL LIST OF CANDIDATES:

• Joe Dagger - Conservatives
• Pat Hackett - Liberal Democrats
• Sue Whiteing - Reform UK
• Scott Adrian Williams - Greens

Stort Valley (Uttlesford)

Last but not least, in the shadow of London Stansted Airport, there'll be a by-election in Stort Valley following the resignation of veteran Liberal Democrat councillor Janice Loughlin, who cited her ongoing cancer battle as the reason for her decision.

The corresponding North West Essex seat is currently held by Conservative Leader of the Opposition Kemi Badenoch.

FULL LIST OF CANDIDATES:

• Paul Bamlett - Liberal Democrats
• George Francis Peter Braeckman - Conservatives
• Philip John Hoy - Reform UK