Liberal Democrat wins Rutland County Council by-election for Oakham North East ward

The Oakham by-election went down to the wire with the Liberal Democrats winning the contest by just seven votes.

Linda Chatfield pipped Conservative candidate Christopher Clark for the Oakham North East ward at the Rutland County Council election count held this morning, winning 244 votes against her rivals 237.

Reform UK candidate Ben Callaghan won 93 votes and Labour’s candidate Katie Ross, gained just 23 votes.

Speaking after her win, Coun Chatfield, who is also an Oakham town councillor, said: “I am of course pleased to have been elected to the council. I was fairly confident, but I knew it would be close. It feels like a relief and I look forward now to getting a good night’s sleep.”

The councillor said she had been out every day canvassing and is looking forward to representing the residents in the area.

She will join her husband, Coun Mark Chatfield on the authority.

597 votes were cast, which was a 27 per cent turnout.

The by-election had been called after the death of Liberal Democrat councillor Hannah Edwards in September. Coun Chatifield’s election means the political makeup of the authority will remain the same. The Liberal Democrats have been in charge since the 2023 elections when they took over from the Conservatives.

All of the candidates apart from Katie Ross were present at the count which took place at the council offices in Oakham.