Tory wins Hextable ward by-election on Sevenoaks District Council with Reform UK second
The Conservatives have won a seat in a council by-election.
The Hextable ward on Sevenoaks District Council (SDC) became vacant last November when Cllr Darren Kitchener died from a congenital heart condition.
The 54-year-old, who was also the chairman of Hextable Parish Council, was elected as an Independent at the last full council elections in May 2023.
Five candidates stood to replace him in the poll held yesterday (Thursday, March 5), with Tory candidate Lee Allen victorious with 600 votes.
Conservative MP for Sevenoaks Laura Trott congratulated him, saying: “Absolutely delighted he has been elected.
“He will be an excellent local advocate for residents and huge thank you to everyone who voted for him.
“I look forward to working together to protect the Hextable school site, our Green Belt land and the future of the Howard venue.”
She also wrote that Cllr Allen has been a local resident of more than 20 years, and is “rooted in the village”.
Daniel Kersten, who has previously been the Reform UK candidate for the Weald of Kent in the 2024 general election, came second, with 406 votes.
The Liberal Democrats, which form the official opposition on SDC, came third with 367 votes.
Jack Griffiths, Independent, received 108 votes, while the Green Party’s Oliver Young polled 62.
A total of 1,547 people voted out of an electorate of 3,281, making the turnout 47.1% - extremely high for a council election of any sort, especially a by-election.
The number of councillors per party on SDC is now: Conservatives 22; Liberal Democrats 14; West Kent Independent Group nine; Greens four; North Sevenoaks District Independent Group two; and Reform UK two.
The Tories are in control of the authority, acting as a minority administration.
There are 52 seats on the council and with Hextable being filled there remains one vacancy.
That too came about due to the death Halstead, Knockholt and Badgers Mount ward councillor Gary Williamson (Con).