Reform had won a string of council by-elections in Wales of late but could only manage third in the vacant Baglan seat in Neath Port Talbot
12:41, 18 Jul 2025Updated 13:53, 18 Jul 2025
Newly elected Baglan Councillor Josh Tuck(Image: Copyright Unknown)
The Labour Party have won a vacant seat at a council by-election in the borough of Neath Port Talbot this week.
The battle for the vacant Baglan seat took place on July 17, 2025, and was won by Labour candidate Josh Tuck who took the position with 708 votes on the night.
The local election was triggered earlier this year after the sudden passing of long-serving Baglan Labour councillor Peter Richards in April of 2025, who had served as a member of the authority since June, 2004.
Councillor Tuck will now take up his position as a member of Neath Port Talbot council after gaining a total of 708 votes on the night, defeating second place independent candidate Wendy Blethyn with 532 votes.
Reform, which had won a string of by-elections in Wales of late, in Carmarthenshire, Bridgend and Torfaen, came third.
Speaking after the votes were counted, the newly elected councillor said: “I’m just over the moon but also so grateful to the people of Baglan for putting their trust in me.
“I really want to pay tribute to Peter Richards as he was an incredibly hard working councillor and more than that he was a friend to Baglan who was much loved in the community.
“My priorities now will be taking on case work, getting our roads and pavements sorted out as well as making sure all the hedge rows and trees are cut back.
“We’re also looking at the lay-by parking charges on Aberavon beach, that’s a huge issue for us and I’ve pledged to fight that, so that’s what I’m going to do at council.”
Baglan is a village and electoral ward in the borough of Neath Port Talbot, located between the town of Port Talbot and Briton Ferry.
The overall turnout at the local by-election was 33.99%.
The final voting results were as follows:
Josh Tuck – Labour Party – 708John Bamsey – Reform UK – 447Nigel Bartolotti Hill – The Green Party – 18Wendy Blethyn – Independent – 532Colin Deere – Plaid Cymru – 149Tomos Gruffydd Roberts-Young – Welsh Liberal Democrats – 13Lee Stabbins – Welsh Conservative Party – 19