Reform UK has secured its first seat on Malvern Hills District Council after candidate Duane Hubbard won the Tenbury ward by-election with 45.1 per cent of the vote. Hubbard, known locally as ‘Lard’, defeated Conservative candidate Carl Fordington, who came second with 30.3 per cent. The Liberal Democrats’ Jed Marson took 12.7 per cent, while the Green Party’s Sam Lewis finished last on 12 per cent.
The result marks a significant shift in the political landscape of the district council, which previously had no Reform UK representation. The by-election was triggered by the resignation of Conservative councillor Andrew Willmott, a lifelong Worcestershire resident who had worked in the water industry and served as the ward’s Conservative representative. In the last Tenbury ward election in 2023, the Conservatives secured 37 per cent of the vote. At that time, the council was composed of 11 Conservatives, seven Greens, seven Liberal Democrats and three independents.
With Hubbard’s victory, the Conservatives lose one seat, reducing their total to ten, while Reform UK gains its first foothold on the authority. The Liberal Democrats and Greens held their existing seats but saw a drop in the Green vote, which fell by eight percentage points from its previous result in the ward. The Liberal Democrats, who did not stand in Tenbury in 2023, entered the contest and secured a 12.7 per cent share.
Hubbard, who moved to Tenbury Wells 14 years ago after a career in law enforcement, runs a smallholding with his wife and is involved with the Tenbury Wells Young Farmers Club. He highlighted the difficulties facing farmers, including inheritance tax and rising costs. “I cannot thank the community of Tenbury Wells enough for taking the time and having the trust to vote for me,” he said. “I am extremely humbled and honoured to know so many turned out and have faith that I can try and do good for the district.”
Conservative candidate Carl Fordington, who has stood in previous Malvern Hills elections including Broadheath in 2023, campaigned on protecting the local environment and supporting businesses. He positioned himself as the candidate most likely to prevent a Reform victory and vowed to support freezing council tax. He also met with local police to address crime concerns. Sam Lewis, in his mid-twenties and a first-time candidate, emphasised compassion, cost of living support, affordable housing and protecting public services. Liberal Democrat Jed Marson, who stood in the same ward in 2023, focused on flooding, practical solutions and criticised the nine per cent council tax increase imposed by the county council.
Reform UK’s county council record under scrutiny
Reform UK’s win in Tenbury comes after the party’s breakthrough in the 2023 Worcestershire County Council elections, where it ousted the Conservative administration to become the largest party on a council under no overall control. However, that period in power has drawn widespread criticism. The county council imposed a nine per cent council tax hike on residents — despite having campaigned on a pledge to cut taxes — and required almost £60 million in emergency government support to avoid effective bankruptcy. Nigel Farage later said he wished his party “hadn’t bothered” taking minority control of a “virtually bankrupt council”.
Worcestershire County Council’s financial position has continued to deteriorate. According to the council’s accounts for the 2024/25 financial year, it ended the year with a £96.4 million deficit and a £6.2 million overspend against a net budget of £433.4 million. Significant cost increases in social care, home-to-school transport and special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) provision have been blamed. The council’s debt pile rose by £45.7 million to a total of £600.9 million, making it one of 30 councils to seek exceptional financial support from the government. A draft annual financial report described a “difficult road ahead”, with the council needing to find another £12.5 million in savings and plug a £33.6 million funding gap in the next 12 months. Its High Needs DSG deficit is projected to reach £184.4 million by March 2026.
The Tenbury by-election result hands Reform UK a new platform at district level, but the party’s experience at county level — where it now leads a minority administration after emerging as the largest party in the 2025 Worcestershire County Council election — serves as a stark backdrop to its local advance.
