Several principal authority by-elections take place across England, Wales and Scotland, continuing a period marked by unusually high numbers of contests in recent weeks. One report covering 9 July 2026 says 16 principal authority by-elections are held in total, with two scheduled for Tuesday and 14 for Thursday. It states the Liberal Democrats are defending five seats as the main defenders that week, while the Green Party and Plaid Cymru each defend three seats. Labour and Independents each defend two seats.
A separate report covering 2 July 2026 notes 12 principal authority by-elections held on Thursday 2 July. It says Reform UK defends three seats, while the Liberal Democrats, Labour and Independents/Localists defend two each. Plaid Cymru and the Conservatives each defend one seat.
Taken together, the sources describe a steady pattern of local by-elections with multiple parties defending varying numbers of seats, and a concentration of polls on Thursdays compared with fewer on Tuesdays.
