Local Liberal Democrats were cheered this week by their victory by 107 votes in a council by-election for Cranbrook, Sissinghurst and Frittenden.

The Lib Dems got 37% of the votes, increasing their overall majority on the recently reprieved Tunbridge Wells Borough Council.

The Lib Dems now have 26 seats against a combined opposition on the council of only 13 seats. (Con 7, Labour 3, TW Alliance 2, Independents for TW 1)

In the by-election held unusually on a Wednesday, right of centre parties won 53% but those votes were split between Conservatives (32%) and Reform (21%), compared with the Lib Dem candidate’s 37%. The Green Party got 10%.

The new Liberal Democrat Councillor is Harry Worthington (pictured below).

Harry Wormington is the brother of the existing Liberal Democrat councillor and cabinet member, Rob Wormington.

Harry Wormington’s campaign literature spoke about his background in the village.

Ben Chapelard, Lib Dem leader of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council said: “I’m delighted to have another hardworking Lib Dem councillor join our united and experienced group in Tunbridge Wells.”

Ben Chapelard continued: “Our campaign to get more local infrastructure built to support our towns and villages and our record of standing up to South East Water really resonated with residents in Cranbrook, Sissinghurst & Frittenden. I’m honoured that they put their trust in the Lib Dems to continue that fight.”

Turnout was only 32% against 46% in same seat in May. The Reform UK candidate, David Somers, had some time ago been on the council representing the Conservatives.

Cllr Tom Mobbs, Conservative (pictured below) said: “We didn’t get the result we wanted in Cranbrook, but by-elections can produce unusual results and don’t always reflect the wider picture.”

Cllr Tom Mobbs concluded: “We look forward to setting out our new Conservative plan for Tunbridge Wells Borough Council and continuing to work hard for local residents.”

Cllr David Hayward (pictured below) of the Independents for Tunbridge Wells Party expressed surprise at the result.

David Hayward, who represents Pembury and Capel, said: “A rather odd result from a rural ward given the LibDems will be spending a massive amount of residents money on a vanity project in the town centre of Tunbridge Wells. If you don’t vote, you can’t later moan.”

There are 3 Borough councillors per ward on the Borough Council (for all wards except High Brooms and St John’s).

Alexander Ellison was the Conservative councillor elected for Cranbrook in May with 46% of the vote and he is still in post. The third Cranbrook councillor is also Conservative: Andy Fairweather.

The councillor who resigned her seat in Cranbrook was Nancy Warne of the Tunbridge Wells Alliance Party who left for personal reasons. The TW Alliance didn’t field a candidate this time.

Cranbrook, Sissinghurst and Frittenden Result September 2026:
Harry Wormington, Lib Dem 697 (against 384 for Lib Dems in May 2026)
Nicholas Lees, Conservative 590 (against 1,227 in May)
David Somers, Reform 392 (against 674 in May)
Max Chesters, Green 186 (against 370 in May)

One unusual aspect of the by-election was that it was held on a Wednesday.

Southborough News asked Tunbridge Wells Borough Council why the day had been moved from the usual Thursday. And – if the law was flexible – why the day could not be changed to the weekend, when more people would be available to vote – and where party supporters would be more available to remind people to vote.

This was the council’s reply: “All scheduled ordinary elections for local government in England must be held on the first Thursday in May. For by-elections in England as a result of a casual vacancy, the Returning Officer is responsible for setting the date of the election, within 35 working days of receipt of requests to hold an election. This can be any day which is not ‘dies non’.”

The council statement continued: “The date is chosen by the Returning Officer, and is dependent on such things as availability of polling stations, polling staff, Returning Officer and staff availability to run the election, and other practical issues such as issuing of poll cards, postal votes etc. As by-elections are unscheduled, they cannot be planned for a particular day.”

The statement ended: “Elections cannot be held on Saturdays, Sundays, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Good Friday, Bank Holidays, and any day appointed as a day of thanksgiving or mourning (these are known as dies non).”