Just 0.4% in it as Reform edge in on Liberal Democrat hold

The Liberal Democrats have retained the Llanidloes Powys County Council seat in a closely contested by-election that saw Reform UK come within just 0.4 percentage points of victory.

Fleur Frantz-Morgans, who works for a domestic violence charity, secured 35.5% of the vote for the Liberal Democrats, while Reform UK's candidate achieved 35.1%. This highlights a dramatically changed political landscape in the Mid Wales constituency.

The by-election was triggered by the retirement of Liberal Democrat Councillor Gareth Morgan, who had represented Llanidloes for an unprecedented 52 years. His departure marked the end of an era for local politics in the market town.

The results demonstrate a significant change in local political support, with traditional parties struggling to maintain their previous vote shares. Plaid Cymru secured third place with 14.3%, followed by the Conservatives on 7.5% and Labour on 7.1%. An independent candidate received 0.4% of the vote.

The Conservatives' vote share plummeted from 21% in the previous election to just 7.5%. This represents a continuation of the party's declining fortunes in the constituency, having lost the parliamentary seat of Montgomeryshire and Glyndŵr to Labour in last year's election.

Labour's fifth-place finish, despite holding the parliamentary seat, suggests the party's urban-focused policies may not be sitting well with rural voters.

The narrow margin between the Liberal Democrats and Reform UK raises questions about the future political direction of the area. Reform's strong showing, securing more than a third of the vote, indicates growing support for their policies in rural Welsh constituencies.

This result comes as political parties begin preparing for the Senedd elections in May 2026, with the Liberal Democrats positioning themselves as the main alternative to what they term "the two old legacy parties" of Labour and the Conservatives.

The by-election outcome suggests that future contests in Powys and surrounding areas could become increasingly competitive three-way battles between the Liberal Democrats, Reform UK, and other parties, potentially reshaping the political map of Mid Wales.

Ms Frantz-Morgans will take her seat on Powys County Council immediately, continuing the Liberal Democrat representation for Llanidloes that has been in place for over half a century.