Date confirmed for Fletton and Woodston Peterborough City Council by-election

The by-election is needed following the resignation of Daisy Blakemore-Creedon.

The former Independent councillor announced her resignation on Friday, May 29, citing claims that she "witnessed a culture where power can too easily go unchecked".

Ms Blakemore-Creedon made headlines when she was elected to Peterborough City Council in the May 2024 elections, aged just 18.

Her exit means a by-election will now have to be held in Fletton and Woodston.

Peterborough City Council has confirmed that, as they have received notice in writing calling for an election by two local government electors, a by-election will indeed be held on Thursday, July 16.

The two current local councillors for Fletton and Woodston are Cllr Ed Murphy (Green Party) and Cllr Andrew O’Neil (Reform UK).

Information regarding important by-election deadlines: for candidates to submit their entry form by, for voters to sign up, and for postal/proxy votes will be reported in due course.

Make up of the council

The political make up of the council now looks very different than it did just a month ago, when final campaigning was taking place ahead of the local elections.

The party with the most councillors is the Conservatives, who have 13 elected representatives.

Labour (including Labour and Co-operative) have 11 councillors. Because of a coalition with other parties, they have the council leader, cllr Shabina Qayyum.

The Liberal Democrats have eight councillors – and there are also eight independent councillors remaining on the authority.

There are also eight members of the Peterborough First group.

The Green Party have six members on the authority, while Reform UK have five.

There is one vacancy (Daisy Blakemore-Creedon’s old seat).

The coalition means that the council cabinet is made up of Labour, Liberal Democrats and Peterborough First (with one independent councillor having a ‘cabinet advisor’ post.)