Council by-election · Thursday, 1 October 2026

Northumberland County: Hirst ward

6 candidates. Same page for each, in ballot-paper order.

6candidates for one seat

2sourced positions

1with something published

1named sources

1. John Victor Allen
Independent

2. Calvin Clark
Liberal Democrats

3. Kerry Davison
Reform UK

4. David Ferguson
Conservative and Unionist Party

5. Melanie Tuesday Fox
Labour Party

6. Eden Webley
Restore Britain

At the election of Thursday, 1 May 2025, this seat was won by 60 votes (6.9% of votes cast); turnout was 25%. Past results describe the past; each election is a new contest.

See the 6 candidates In a hurry? Two-minute guide →

In this ward 6 candidates from 6 parties or independent slots are standing. Parties do not stand everywhere; here is how to find out whether yours stands nearby.

This is a council seat. A councillor's win changes what the council decides: council tax, housing repairs and allocations, planning, social care, schools admissions, parking, bins, libraries. It does not change national tax, benefits or NHS policy, so this page shows only positions published for this council election, and no national party pledges are implied.

Sourced positions found for 1 of 6 candidates

Compare candidates side by side

You're voting for

Your local councillor

Councillors sit on the council that runs services where you live. They set the council's budget and council tax, and decide local planning applications. Here, for Northumberland County: Hirst ward.

What this office decides

Planning. Whether new homes, extensions and developments get permission.
Waste and streets. Bins, recycling, street cleaning, fly-tipping.
Council tax. The level you pay, within limits set nationally.
Social care. In county and unitary councils, care for older and disabled people.
Parks and libraries. Opening, funding, closing.
Council housing. Repairs, allocations and, in many areas, homelessness.

What it does not

NHS policy and waiting times. Parliament and the NHS.
Income tax and benefits. Parliament.
Immigration. Parliament.
Policing policy. The Home Office and your Police and Crime Commissioner or mayor.
Schools' curriculum. Government and, for academies, their trusts.

Candidates often campaign on things their office cannot change. That is not dishonest in itself — an MP can press a council, a councillor can lobby government — but it is worth knowing which is which. Summarised from the Local Government Association and UK Parliament descriptions of each role.

How this vote is counted: first past the post. One cross; the candidate with the most votes wins.Worked example

Every ballot with one cross is counted for that candidate. The one with the most votes wins, even without a majority. Example: A 4,000, B 3,900, C 2,100. A wins with 40% of the vote; the 60% cast for others elect nobody. There are no second preferences; a vote for a candidate who does not win has no further effect.

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TopicSearch every position on this ballot

Showing 6 of 6 candidates. Everyone on the ballot, in ballot-paper order.

Numbered as on the ballot paper. Open a candidate to see their positions on the nine topics, with sources. Until a household is described, only positions that apply to everyone are counted.

1John Victor Allen

Independent

ShowHide

Money —Housing —Health —Education —Environment —Immigration —Crime —Defence & EU —Equality —0 in total

Democracy Club profile

In their own words

No statement to voters supplied to Democracy Club.

Stood before

Northumberland council, Hirst ward, May 2025 (Reform UK) — elected
Northumberland council, Hirst ward, May 2021 (Reform UK) — not elected
Northamptonshire council, Talavera ward, May 2017 (UK Independence Party (UKIP)) — not elected

Previous candidacies from Democracy Club. A record of standing, not a judgement.

Open John's page →

Where this information comes from

Positions are quoted from the candidate's or party's own published material and official records, each with its source. Candidates and their agents can also submit sourced statements, published as written once we confirm they appear at the cited address. Not yet invited to submit a statement: we have no contact address. If you are this candidate, use the link below. Submit a statement.

Published positions on the nine topics

Nothing published that we could source, yet. A councillor sits on the council that sets council tax and decides planning, housing repairs and allocations, social care, bins, parking, libraries and, in most areas, school admissions. It cannot change national tax, benefits or NHS policy.

Are you this candidate, or their agent? Send us a sourced statement; it is published as written.
Look yourself: the council's election notices · leaflets archived for this area (electionleaflets.org, a Democracy Club project).

1John Victor Allen

Independent

2Calvin Clark

Liberal Democrats

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Money —Housing —Health 1Education —Environment —Immigration —Crime 1Defence & EU —Equality —2 in total

Democracy Club profile Party site

In their own words

I’m Calvin Clark, and I’m standing as a candidate for Hirst Division because I want to see strong, reliable and accountable representation for our community.

If elected, my priorities would be:

* Keep our Park Run — supporting this valuable community activity and helping ensure it can continue. * Clean and safe streets — tackling litter, fly-tipping and anti-social behaviour and pressing the council to keep our streets maintained. * Care in the community — supporting vulnerable residents and making sure people in Hirst can access the help they need. * Better neighbourhoods — championing parks, play areas and community spaces and working for improvements where residents identify problems. * Help local businesses — supporting our high streets and local businesses and recognising the contribution they make to Hirst. * Always listen — making myself available to residents and taking their concerns seriously. * Speak up for residents — challenging decisions at County Council when they don’t work for Hirst. * Be visible and proactive — getting out into the community, listening to people directly and following issues through. * Reliable and accountable representation — keeping residents informed about what I am doing on their behalf and being answerable for my work at the council.

For me, local politics should be about the practical issues that affect people every day: our streets, parks, neighbourhoods, businesses and the services people rely on. I want to make sure Hirst has representation that is present, engaged and focused on the community.

Statement to voters supplied by the candidate to Democracy Club, retrieved 2026-09-19. Reproduced unedited.

Open Calvin's page →

Where this information comes from

Published positions on the nine topics

Candidate statements and leaflets are published as written; we check they are real, not that they are true. Switch between summaries and exact quotations with the control above the list.

Money and cost of living

Nothing published on this yet.

Housing and property

Nothing published on this yet.

Healthcare and social care

What this candidate says

Candidate's own words · Calvin Clark (candidate), via Democracy Club · Statement to voters: Calvin Clark

Their position

* Care in the community — supporting vulnerable residents and making sure people in Hirst can access the help they need.

What that means

Says he will support vulnerable residents and make sure people in Hirst can access the help they need.

Retrieved 2026-09-19.

Education and universities

Nothing published on this yet.

Environment, climate and energy

Nothing published on this yet.

Immigration and borders

Nothing published on this yet.

Crime, policing and justice

What this candidate says

Candidate's own words · Calvin Clark (candidate), via Democracy Club · Statement to voters: Calvin Clark

Their position

* Clean and safe streets — tackling litter, fly-tipping and anti-social behaviour and pressing the council to keep our streets maintained.

What that means

Says his priorities include clean and safe streets: tackling litter, fly-tipping and anti-social behaviour.

2Calvin Clark

Liberal Democrats

3Kerry Davison

Reform UK

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Money —Housing —Health —Education —Environment —Immigration —Crime —Defence & EU —Equality —0 in total

Democracy Club profile Party site

In their own words

I am absolutely delighted to formally announce that I am standing as your Reform UK candidate for the upcoming Northumberland County Council by-election in the Hirst Ward.

The Hirst isn’t just an election boundary to me. I was born right there on George Street. I am a proud miner’s daughter, my dad worked at Woodhorn and Ellington pits, and our family lived through the strike. In fact, I was born in the Hirst, my surname should be Hirst!

We have spent the last 15 months working hard on the ground to bring active, visible representation back to our community.

We made history in May 2025 by breaking the traditional Labour monopoly on Ashington Town Council for the first time. As your Central Ward Town Councillor, I have spent the last year working on the frontline for our town across our key decision-making bodies. I sit actively on our Finance and General Services Committee, the Personnel Committee, and the Partnership Board. I am also a representative on the CCTV Group, the Youth Coordination Group, the Allotment Liaison Group, the Ashington Town Forum, and the NALC County Committee. I haven’t just talked about change; We have been delivering it.

Now, I am ready to take that exact same work ethic to County Hall to fight for the Hirst. For too long, our ward has suffered from a complete lack of engagement from its previous representative, who failed to attend a single council meeting for six consecutive months.

While the media and Labour try to play political blame games, the facts are simple: the moment he failed to perform his duties, he was booted out of Reform UK for good reason. We don’t protect inactivity; we demand results.

Our community faces real, urgent infrastructure pressures. I am fully focused on ensuring that the ongoing Hirst Master Plan and regional regeneration programmes deliver actual, tangible results for our neighbourhood rather than just promises on paper.

A staggering 83% of all licensed Houses in Multiple Occupation in Northumberland are crammed strictly into Ashington and Blyth, saturating the Hirst and Central wards. Our local youngsters and disabled residents are being completely ignored on housing waiting lists, and we must secure the necessary funding and support to look after our own local people.

At the same time, our vital public services are collapsing. Local residents cannot get an NHS dentist appointment or even a routine appointment with a GP, while our frontline infrastructure is left to deteriorate. I am standing to deliver results from these ongoing schemes and enforce a common-sense policy of local houses for local people, alongside real investment in our healthcare and public spaces.

This campaign isn’t starting on election day—we are already out there doing the work. Over the next month, our campaign teams will be thick on the ground across every single street in the Hirst. The turquoise wave is coming in again, and we are ready to fight for you.

But having your support on the doorsteps and on social media is only the first step. To deliver real, lasting change, we need every single resident to turn that support into action. We need you to actually get out and make your voice heard at the ballot box when polling day arrives on Thursday, 1st October 2026.

Statement to voters supplied by the candidate to Democracy Club, retrieved 2026-09-19. Reproduced unedited.

Stood before

Northumberland council, Ashington Central ward, May 2025 (Reform UK) — not elected

Previous candidacies from Democracy Club. A record of standing, not a judgement.

Open Kerry's page →

Where this information comes from

Published positions on the nine topics

Are you this candidate, or their agent? Send us a sourced statement; it is published as written.
Look yourself: the council's election notices · the party's site · leaflets archived for this area (electionleaflets.org, a Democracy Club project).

3Kerry Davison

Reform UK

4David Ferguson

The Conservative Party Candidate

ShowHide

Money —Housing —Health —Education —Environment —Immigration —Crime —Defence & EU —Equality —0 in total

Democracy Club profile Party site

In their own words

No statement to voters supplied to Democracy Club.

Stood before

Northumberland council, Seaton With Spital ward, May 2025 (Conservative and Unionist Party) — not elected
Northumberland council, Hartley ward, May 2021 (Conservative and Unionist Party) — elected

Previous candidacies from Democracy Club. A record of standing, not a judgement.

Open David's page →

Where this information comes from

Published positions on the nine topics

Are you this candidate, or their agent? Send us a sourced statement; it is published as written.
Look yourself: the council's election notices · the party's site · leaflets archived for this area (electionleaflets.org, a Democracy Club project).

4David Ferguson

Conservative and Unionist Party

5Melanie Tuesday Fox

Labour Party

ShowHide

Money —Housing —Health —Education —Environment —Immigration —Crime —Defence & EU —Equality —0 in total

Democracy Club profile Party site

In their own words

No statement to voters supplied to Democracy Club.

Open Melanie's page →

Where this information comes from

Published positions on the nine topics

Are you this candidate, or their agent? Send us a sourced statement; it is published as written.
Look yourself: the council's election notices · the party's site · leaflets archived for this area (electionleaflets.org, a Democracy Club project).

5Melanie Tuesday Fox

Labour Party

6Eden Webley

Restore Britain

ShowHide

Money —Housing —Health —Education —Environment —Immigration —Crime —Defence & EU —Equality —0 in total

Democracy Club profile Party site

In their own words

No statement to voters supplied to Democracy Club.

Stood before

UK Parliament, Wansbeck, December 2019 (Reform UK) — not elected

Previous candidacies from Democracy Club. A record of standing, not a judgement.

Open Eden's page →

Where this information comes from

Published positions on the nine topics

Are you this candidate, or their agent? Send us a sourced statement; it is published as written.
Look yourself: the council's election notices · the party's site · leaflets archived for this area (electionleaflets.org, a Democracy Club project).

6Eden Webley

Restore Britain

Photos: shown where one exists on Democracy Club (6 of 6 here); initials otherwise. A missing photo says nothing about the candidate. · How much sourced material we found per party · Why isn't my party standing here?

Last time in this seat: election of Thursday, 1 May 2025

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
John Victor Allen (elected)	Reform UK	434	50%
Ken Parry	Labour and Co-operative Party	374	43.1%
Gail Waddell	Conservative and Unionist Party	60	6.9%

868 valid votes, turnout 25%. Result data from Democracy Club (source). Past results describe the past; each election is a new contest.