Reform UK has taken Mincinglake & Whipton from Labour in Exeter City Council by-elections that also saw the party hold Topsham by just 28 votes as its vote share fell to only 0.25% above Reform across both wards.
Tony Payne won Mincinglake & Whipton with just under 35% of the vote while Labour’s vote share fell to less than 28%, down from nearly 62% two years ago.
2025 Exeter City Council Mincinglake & Whipton by-election results
James Cookson held Topsham for Labour despite its vote share in the ward falling by nearly 17% to a little over 28% in a close contest which Conservative Keith Sparkes lost by a margin of less than 1%.
Reform UK came third, with a 23% vote share. Across both wards the party won 1,549 votes – only 14 less than Labour.
The city council by-elections followed the resignations of Labour councillors Naima Allcock and Josh Ellis-Jones, both of whom quit during the third year of four-year terms.
Full results in both wards, including votes cast for each candidate with vote share, party vote share change and turnout, are available here.
