Lib Dems win 'most important' Salisbury by-election

The Liberal Democrats have retained the Salisbury Milford county council seat after a by-election described as the most important in 40 years.

Mac Brown was elected to Wiltshire Council with 759 votes on Thursday, beating Conservative candidate Laura Jones, followed by Reform UK, then Labour.

It means Wiltshire Council will continue to be run the same, with the Lib Dems in control of a minority administration since 2025 after no party gained enough votes to take overall control.

Councillor Ian Thorn, council leader, said: "I'm delighted that we held the seat with an increased share of the vote."

"The election in Milford largely focussed on our record in running Wiltshire," he added.

Thorn had previously told the BBC: "In 40 years of campaigning, this is the most important by-election I can remember."

The Conservatives had been campaigning heavily in the area, as winning the seat would have meant they could have attempted a takeover of Wiltshire Council due to the Lib Dem control of the council being so slight in numbers.

The council is made up of 42 Lib Dem seats, 38 Conservative, 10 Reform and seven Independents.

The Salisbury Milford seat on both Salisbury City Council and Wiltshire Council was previously held by Lib Dem Alan Bayliss, who resigned due to personal reasons.

As a result, the Milford seat on Salisbury City Council was also up for grabs, with Lawrence Gillies of the Lib Dems also elected.

Councillor Sam Charleston, leader of Salisbury City Council, said: "I'm absolutely delighted with this result. It is a brilliant endorsement of the work Liberal Democrats are doing in Salisbury and our commitment to putting residents first."

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