Democracy doesn't work when people don't know Upgrade to paid
NEWS
Reform UK takes Mincinglake & Whipton from Labour in Exeter City Council by-elections
Labour holds Topsham by just 28 votes as party polls only 0.25% above Reform across both wards.
Martin Redfern
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.
Democracy doesn't work when people don't know
Public interest news that holds power and influence to account is more important now than it has ever been.
Democracy doesn't work when people don't know who is deciding what on whose behalf and what the costs and consequences of those decisions will be.
Exeter Observer can produce the independent investigative journalism our local democracy needs because it is funded by its readers.
185 of the 300 paying subscribers we need to cover our running costs and keep publishing have signed up so far.
If you value local news that matters please join them today from less than £2/week and get access to exclusive premium content and more.
Exeter UCU votes for industrial action in face of university plans to cut 150 staff
Ofsted finds significant improvements in Devon County Council children’s services
On Our Radar
SATURDAY 12 SEPTEMBER TO SATURDAY 31 OCTOBER 2026
The Nature of Light
Thelma Hulbert Gallery presents works by post-war Devon landscape artist Yasmin David.
THELMA HULBERT GALLERY
THURSDAY 1 TO SUNDAY 11 OCTOBER 2026
Two Moors Festival 2026
Chamber music festival returns for twenty-sixth year with poetry readings, workshops and performances across thirteen venues.
DARTMOOR, EXMOOR & NEARBY
SATURDAY 24 OCTOBER 2026
Magic, Witchcraft & Devon
One-day conference with talks from historians on magic and witchcraft in Devon in the 16th and 17th centuries.
MINT METHODIST CHURCH CENTRE
SATURDAY 24 OCTOBER 2026
How to Depend On Ourselves and Each Other
A one-day event exploring foraging, fermentation and community organising.
EXETER CITY CENTRE
SATURDAY 24 OCTOBER 2026
The Four Seasons
An evening of classical music by candlelight performed by London Concertante.
EXETER CATHEDRAL
SUNDAY 25 OCTOBER 2026
Bangla Cultural Fest
An evening festival celebrating Bengali culture and diversity in Exeter with live music, dance, exhibitions and stalls.
EXETER PHOENIX
More stories
£12 million Trew’s Weir reconstruction recast as £2 million repair
Exeter quay and canal water levels and electricity supply to thousands of city centre residents and businesses depend on survival of deteriorating weir with estimated 1-5 year lifespan.
South West Water receives £7.9 million fine for “horrendous” pollution over six years of “reckless” management failures
Judge finds company sought to minimise role instead of accepting full responsibility and expressing remorse for eighteen criminal offences in Devon and Cornwall.
Devon & Cornwall Police monitoring level increased again by police inspectorate
Police and crime commissioner Alison Hernandez says she has “full confidence” in chief constable James Vaughan two weeks after confirming he will lead force until August 2028 as HMICFRS highlights leadership and safeguarding failings.
Harlequins “co-living” redevelopment site for sale as student accommodation prospect despite Labour manifesto pledge
Exeter shopping centre to become car park until developer decides to “mobilise” after council covers £1.2 million demolition costs and continues to stall on bona fide co-living policy six years after adoption proposed.
South West Water customer complaints soar 152% in steepest increase in England and Wales
Consumer Council for Water performance report follows Friends of the Earth analysis identifying South West Water as worst environmental offender among water companies in England.
Wonford hub plans scaled back as lease termination, business plan and governance risks remain unresolved
Labour councillors insist protracted project still on course after repeated delays expose funding dependence on time-limited £2 million Sport England grant.
2025 Exeter City Council Mincinglake & Whipton by-election results
