Campaigning Begins for Monmouth By-Election Following MP’s Resignation

CAMPAIGNING has begun ahead of a deadline for nominations in a by-election called after a Labour councillor was elected to Parliament. 
Catherine Fookes became Momouthshire’s first female MP at July’s general election and last week resigned the Monmouthshire County Council seat she had held since the 2022 local government elections. 
Her victory in the Monmouth Town ward helped Labour take power at County Hall from the Conservatives despite falling short of a majority, and it has since agreed a coalition with the single Green Party councillor to help it run the authority. 
Labour will remain the largest group on the county council but will want to maintain its 22 seats by holding the town ward seat while victory for the Conservatives would take its number up to 19 on the 46 member council. 
The Tories have selected Martin Newall, who in June won a by-election to Monmouth Town Council, in the same ward, for the party while Labour’s candidate is Jackie Atkin.  
No other parties or candidates have yet announced they are standing, though nominations don’t close until 4pm this Friday, September 27. The election will take place on Thursday, October 24. 
On the weekend Welsh Conservative Senedd leader Andrew RT Davies and Monmouthshire’s Tory Senedd Member, Peter Fox, joined supporters to campaign in Monmouth while Labour councillors and activists were also on the campaign trail. 
Voters, who must be 16 or over, have until midnight on October 8 to register to vote in the election. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

By BBC LDRS ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​