The Green Party has won a Lancaster City Council by-election, retaining its strong presence in the area amid wide political changes across Lancashire and beyond.
Will Farley has been elected to the city council with 845 votes, followed by the Labour Party in second place, Reform UK in third and the Lib-Dems fourth. The Conservatives did not stand in this by-election.
The full results, in order of the number of votes gained, are Will Farley (GREEN) 845, William David Evans (LAB) 190 votes, Marco Wright (REFORM UK) 132 and Malcolm Allan Martin (LIB-DEM) 41. The Green Party’s result was over 300 votes higher than in the last Castle ward by-election of 2024.
Will Farley:
Speaking about the Green victory, new councillor Will Farley, who lives in the ward, said: “I’m extremely proud that the people of Lancaster have continued to put their faith in the Green Party. We will build on the standards that many of you have come to expect – and also prove ourselves to those of you who believe we can do more.
I’ve had so many interesting conversations with people across the campaign, some of whom are completely apathetic to voting, others sceptical of the Green Party. Yet when people come together and talk about what we have in common, the results can be surprising. There are few people who would suggest that the UK is not facing many crises – but divisive politics ultimately only works to the detriment of our communities.
This campaign has proved to me that, despite the news headlines and the constant feed of despair in our social media algorithms, when people talk to each other, not at each other, we can build on what we share in common rather than only fight over what divides us. And, together, we can work to improve people’s lives.
Whether on a national or local level, we need to remember how to talk with one another, solve problems together and ultimately do our job as elected officials. That job is to serve our community – and not to prove that any sole party has all the answers.
The Green Party was defending the seat following the resignation of Green councillor Isabella Metcalfe-Riener, who was also a Lancaster University student. She was elected two years ago but is now moving away. The ward’s two other city councillors are both Greens – Dave Brookes and Paul Stubbins.
William Evans and the local Labour party:
The Labour Party said Castle ward has been held by the Greens since 1999 so it was not surprised to see them holding it in the by-election. Labour said it ran a ‘robust but civil campaign, with a strong young candidate, and was pleased to secure second place’.
William Evans, Labour’s candidate, said:
It was good to come above Reform UK and maintain second place. The Reform votes appear to be mainly due to the absence of the Conservatives. I’d like to congratulate Will Farley for a well fought campaign.
A city council Labour group spokesperson added:
By-elections are often used by voters to reflect on national issues rather than local ones. This has been even more of an issue this time, with as Reform appear not to know what the role of a city councillor is, basing their campaign around immigration and potholes, neither of which are things the city council has responsibility for. They also sent a letter from Nigel Farage to everyone in the ward.
Early in the campaign, the Labour Party claimed Lancaster residents deserved a ‘full-time’ city councillor. But the Greens defended ex-councillor Isabella Metcalfe-Riener’s record, saying she had made a good contribution to the city council and was also, importantly, a young person active in politics. In addition, they said she did an ‘outstanding job’ in helping new Green Party MP Hannah Spencer to win Manchester’s Gorton & Denton Westminster seat in February.
Lancaster City Council
Lancaster City Council is led by a shared Green, Lib-Dems and Morecambe Bay Independent administration. The by-election result means there are now 23 Green councillors, 20 Labour, seven Lib-Dems, five Conservatives, three Morecambe Bay Independents and three independents.
Because of phased election timetables, the city council had no scheduled elections earlier this month, unlike some other councils.
Reform was not involved in the last Castle ward by-election in 2024. Then, Isabella Metcalfe-Riener came first with 524 votes. Labour was second with 212 votes, the Conservatives came third with 43 votes and the Lib-Dems were fourth with 27 votes.
An LDRS article by Local Democracy Reporter Robbie Macdonald.
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