LIBERAL Democrats in Mid Devon yesterday, Thursday, June 20, gained their 35th seat on Mid Devon District Council.

The local by-election, which could be a temperature gauge ahead of next month’s general election, saw Adam Stirling (Liberal Democrat) elected with 431 votes in the Tiverton Westexe seat on Mid Devon District Council.

Mr Stirling also gaining the Tiverton Westexe seat on Tiverton Town Council.

The vacancies arose after the disqualification of former Lib Dem councillor Jamie Frost, after he left the party.

One person with knowledge of Mr Frost’s situation said he had undergone major heart surgery after the May 2023 election, attended one district council meeting in early November, and then didn’t attend again.

A Mid Devon District Council spokesperson said Mr Frost was disqualified under the Local Government Act 1972, which stipulates that if a councillor doesn’t turn up for six consecutive months from the date of their last meeting, they have to be removed from the council unless they had previous approval to stay away.

Voting was open until 10pm and polling stations were at Heathcote Community Centre on King Street, Withleigh Village Hall, Calverleigh Village Hall, and Templeton Village Hall.

Not elected, but the other district results were: Paul Andrew Osman (Conservative) 248, Jason Sonny Albert Lejeune (Independent) 182 and Laura Buchanan (Green Party) 88.

The six remaining Mid Devon District Council seats not occupied by Liberal Democrats are split between the Conservatives, Green Party and an independent.

Stephen Walford, the district council chief executive was the Returning Officer and he said that the electorate was 4,919, with 954 ballot papers issued and a turnout of 19.39 per cent.

The Westexe Ward town council candidates were Dan (Danielle Angela) Furminger (Local Independents for Tiverton), Philippa Louise Grainger (Independent) and Adam Stirling (Liberal Democrat).

Adam Stirling was elected to the Town Council with 469 votes.  The other candidates, who were not elected and their results were: Dan Furminger (Local Independents for Tiverton) 222 and Philippa Louise Grainger (Independent) 154.

In the town council election the electorate was 4,660 with 856 ballot papers issued and a turnout of 18.43 per cent.

Tiverton is now part of the new Tiverton and Minehead parliamentary constituency.

The candidates in the race for that seat on Thursday, July 4, are Jonathan Reece Barter (Labour), Laura Buchanan (Green Party), Rachel Gilmour (Liberal Democrat), Frederick Keen (Reform UK), and Ian Liddell-Grainger (Conservative and Unionist Party).