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Liberal Democrats win Coppice Valley by-election

Friday, 7 August 2026 08:52

The Liberal Democrats won the Coppice Valley Town Council by-election.

The Liberal Democrats have won the Coppice Valley Town Council by-election, with Rebecca McManus securing more than 60% of the vote.

Cllr McManus received 61.2% of votes cast, with Reform UK finishing second on 15.6%.

The Liberal Democrats said their share of the vote was 21.2 percentage points higher than at last year's local election.

Turnout for the by-election was 30.7%.

Following the result, Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Tom Gordon thanked residents who had supported his party.

He said:

“Thank you to everyone in Coppice Valley who voted Liberal Democrat last night - including the many who normally back other parties but lent us their vote to the Lib Dems to keep Reform out.

“Rebecca McManus will be a fantastic local community champion. The trust people have shown in Rebecca and our party means everything, and we won’t take it for granted.”

Mr Gordon also used the result to criticise the Conservatives and argue that the Liberal Democrats were best placed to challenge Reform UK locally.

He added:

“Again and again, voters are telling us that the Liberal Democrats are the only ones who can actually beat Reform in Harrogate - and last night they proved it.”

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