Labour has retained control of its seats at Gravesham council after voters went to the polls.

Kim Glendenning will replace Lauren Sullivan as one of the representatives for Rosherville Ward following a by-election.

The candidate comfortably won 375 votes, with Reform UK’s John Dennis English coming in behind with 257, followed by Thomas Joseph O’Keeffe of the Conservative Party with 133.

Cllr John Burden continues to be the other ward councillor for Rosherville after winning 658 votes during the local elections in 2023.

This means the make-up of Gravesham council remains with Labour having 22 out of the 39 seats, with the Conservatives holding 17.

The by-election was called due to Lauren Sullivan’s resignation from the role after she was elected as MP for Gravesham last summer.

She also stepped down from her role as councillor for Northfleet and Gravesend West on Kent Conty Council (KCC) and leader of the opposition group.

Electors also went to the polls yesterday (May 1) to vote in the KCC elections, the last before a major shake-up in local government which will see the authority disbanded.

Staff at 12 sites across Kent are currently counting the ballot papers to determine the results of 81 seats in 72 divisions.

You can follow KentOnline’s live coverage from across the county here and find the results for Gravesham here.

The full by-election results for Rosherville Ward are as follows:

James Edward Eagle (Green Party): 93

John Dennis English (Reform UK): 257

Kim Glendenning (Labour Party): 375

Thomas Joseph O’Keeffe (Conservative Party): 133