Council by-election · Thursday, 29 October 2026

Halton Borough: Beechwood & Heath ward

Name: Halton Borough: Beechwood & Heath ward council by-election, 29 October 2026
Start: 2026-10-29T07:00:00+00:00
End: 2026-10-29T22:00:00+00:00
Location: Halton Borough: Beechwood & Heath ward

Archive. This election has already happened. Everything below is shown as it stood at the time: the candidates, their published positions as of the campaign, and household figures under the law of 2026. Nothing here is a judgement of what happened afterwards.

6 candidates stood here, polling day 29 October 2026. The same page for each of them, in the order you will see on the ballot paper. Read them all, or start with the one you have heard of.

6candidates for one seat

0sourced positions

0with something published

0named sources

See the 6 candidates In a hurry? Two-minute guide →

The 6 on your paper in the order you’ll see them

No. 1Labour Party
Owen Ashworth
No statement supplied.
Nothing published that we could source yet
No. 2Independent
Dan Clarke
“I’m Dan Clarke, I’m the Libertarian Party Parliamentary candidate for the Makerfield by-election.”
Nothing published that we could source yet
No. 3Restore Britain
Ash Corcoran
“A gardener by trade whose roots are firmly in Runcorn, Ash is passionate about his local area, with a strong record of grassroots…”
Nothing published that we could source yet
No. 4The Conservative Party Candidate
Luke Jon Hanson
No statement supplied.
Nothing published that we could source yet
No. 5Liberal Democrats
Diane Marie Inch
No statement supplied.
Nothing published that we could source yet
No. 6Reform UK
Neil Eric Thornton
“Reform UK are delighted to announce that Neil Thornton will be our candidate in the forthcoming by-election in the Beechwood & Heath ward.”
Nothing published that we could source yet

The result, Thursday, 29 October 2026

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Neil Eric Thornton (elected)	Reform UK	750	35.3%
Diane Marie Inch	Liberal Democrats	559	26.3%
Owen Ashworth	Labour Party	535	25.2%
Ash Corcoran	Restore Britain	134	6.3%
Dan Clarke	Independent	90	4.2%
Luke Jon Hanson	Conservative and Unionist Party	56	2.6%

2,124 valid votes, turnout 33.9% of 6,064 registered electors, 2 spoilt ballots. Result data from Democracy Club (source). Past results describe the past; each election is a new contest.

In this ward 6 candidates from 6 parties or independent slots are standing. Parties do not stand everywhere; here is how to find out whether yours stands nearby.

This is a council seat. A councillor's win changes what the council decides: council tax, housing repairs and allocations, planning, social care, schools admissions, parking, bins, libraries. It does not change national tax, benefits or NHS policy, so this page shows only positions published for this council election, and no national party pledges are implied.

Sourced positions found for 0 of 6 candidates

No sourced positions have been published for this ballot yet, so every candidate shows the same empty slots. Every claim that appears carries its source, date and exact quotation; see the public ledger.

Compare candidates side by side

You're voting for

Your local councillor

Councillors sit on the council that runs services where you live. They set the council's budget and council tax, and decide local planning applications. Here, for Halton Borough: Beechwood & Heath ward.

What this office decides

Planning. Whether new homes, extensions and developments get permission.
Waste and streets. Bins, recycling, street cleaning, fly-tipping.
Council tax. The level you pay, within limits set nationally.
Social care. In county and unitary councils, care for older and disabled people.
Parks and libraries. Opening, funding, closing.
Council housing. Repairs, allocations and, in many areas, homelessness.

What it does not

NHS policy and waiting times. Parliament and the NHS.
Income tax and benefits. Parliament.
Immigration. Parliament.
Policing policy. The Home Office and your Police and Crime Commissioner or mayor.
Schools' curriculum. Government and, for academies, their trusts.

Candidates often campaign on things their office cannot change. That is not dishonest in itself — an MP can press a council, a councillor can lobby government — but it is worth knowing which is which. Summarised from the Local Government Association and UK Parliament descriptions of each role.

How this vote is counted: first past the post. One cross; the candidate with the most votes wins.Worked example

Every ballot with one cross is counted for that candidate. The one with the most votes wins, even without a majority. Example: A 4,000, B 3,900, C 2,100. A wins with 40% of the vote; the 60% cast for others elect nobody. There are no second preferences; a vote for a candidate who does not win has no further effect.

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TopicSearch every position on this ballot

Showing 6 of 6 candidates. Everyone on the ballot, in ballot-paper order.

Numbered as on the ballot paper. Open a candidate to see their positions on the ten topics, with sources. Until a household is described, only positions that apply to everyone are counted.

1Owen Ashworth

Labour Party

ShowHide

No published position found yet.

Democracy Club profile Party site

In their own words

No statement to voters supplied to Democracy Club.

Stood before

No previous candidacy on Democracy Club's record. Every candidate has this section.

Record in office

No voting record is shown for any council candidate: councils record votes by name only in limited cases (in England, budget and council tax decisions), and no dataset of them exists. Positions below come from what the candidate and their party have published.

Open Owen's page →

Where this information comes from

Positions are quoted from the candidate's or party's own published material and official records, each with its source. Where a candidate has given Democracy Club a statement to voters, it is shown word for word. If you are this candidate and something here is wrong, email us and we will check it against the source.

Published positions on the ten topics

Nothing published that we could source, yet. A councillor sits on the council that sets council tax and decides planning, housing repairs and allocations, social care, bins, parking, libraries and, in most areas, school admissions. It cannot change national tax, benefits or NHS policy.

Are you this candidate, or their agent? If something here is wrong, email us and we will check it against the source.
Look yourself: the council's election notices · the party's site · leaflets archived for this area (electionleaflets.org, a Democracy Club project).

1Owen Ashworth

Labour Party

2Dan Clarke

Independent

ShowHide

No published position found yet.

Democracy Club profile

In their own words

I’m Dan Clarke, I’m the Libertarian Party Parliamentary candidate for the Makerfield by-election. Which is taking place on 18th June. I am also standing in a local council by election for Farnworth ward (Widnes) which is taking place on 25th June.

Our main principles are lower taxes, maximum personal freedom and implementation of a Constitution for the United Kingdom. We want to Enshrine the right to digital freedoms into constitutional law. We are completely against the “Digital ID” that this authoritarian government is obsessed in pushing through.

The big issues I see in Makerfield are huge dislike of Keir Starmer. This is definitely a by-election to get rid of Starmer, regardless of who wins. If I win, I will champion constituents right to privacy. I will work tirelessly to stop ‘Digital ID’ From happening. People have a right to privacy.

The time for classical liberalism/Libertarianism is now. The movement is growing, we are fighting more elections. We are showing the UK that we are here, we are serious and we will eventually succeed.

Statement to voters supplied by the candidate to Democracy Club, retrieved 2026-10-26. Reproduced unedited.

Stood before

No previous candidacy on Democracy Club's record. Every candidate has this section.

Record in office

Open Dan's page →

Where this information comes from

Published positions on the ten topics

Are you this candidate, or their agent? If something here is wrong, email us and we will check it against the source.
Look yourself: the council's election notices · leaflets archived for this area (electionleaflets.org, a Democracy Club project).

2Dan Clarke

Independent

3Ash Corcoran

Restore Britain

ShowHide

No published position found yet.

Democracy Club profile Party site

In their own words

A gardener by trade whose roots are firmly in Runcorn, Ash is passionate about his local area, with a strong record of grassroots volunteering and local involvement. Ash began his volunteering through Litter Networks, where he quickly took the initiative to organise regular litter-picking sessions, helping to improve the local environment and bring residents together. This later developed into his own charity, where he used his expertise in grounds maintenance to clean and maintain important local heritage sites, including St Mary's Church.

Ash and his wife are active members of their local church, and his values have been shaped by his upbringing, his close-knit family and his strong connection to the community he calls home.

In 2024, Ash was named Apprentice/Young Person of the Year at the Halton Business Awards, and he also brings five years' experience working for a local housing association.

Statement to voters supplied by the candidate to Democracy Club, retrieved 2026-10-26. Reproduced unedited.

Stood before

No previous candidacy on Democracy Club's record. Every candidate has this section.

Record in office

Open Ash's page →

Where this information comes from

Published positions on the ten topics

Are you this candidate, or their agent? If something here is wrong, email us and we will check it against the source.
Look yourself: the council's election notices · the party's site · leaflets archived for this area (electionleaflets.org, a Democracy Club project).

3Ash Corcoran

Restore Britain

4Luke Jon Hanson

The Conservative Party CandidateBallot-paper description. Registered party: Conservative and Unionist Party.

ShowHide

No published position found yet.

Democracy Club profile Party site

In their own words

No statement to voters supplied to Democracy Club.

Stood before

No previous candidacy on Democracy Club's record. Every candidate has this section.

Record in office

Open Luke's page →

Where this information comes from

Published positions on the ten topics

Are you this candidate, or their agent? If something here is wrong, email us and we will check it against the source.
Look yourself: the council's election notices · the party's site · leaflets archived for this area (electionleaflets.org, a Democracy Club project).

4Luke Jon Hanson

Conservative and Unionist Party

5Diane Marie Inch

Liberal Democrats

ShowHide

No published position found yet.

Democracy Club profile Party site

In their own words

No statement to voters supplied to Democracy Club.

Stood before

No previous candidacy on Democracy Club's record. Every candidate has this section.

Record in office

Open Diane's page →

Where this information comes from

Published positions on the ten topics

Are you this candidate, or their agent? If something here is wrong, email us and we will check it against the source.
Look yourself: the council's election notices · the party's site · leaflets archived for this area (electionleaflets.org, a Democracy Club project).

5Diane Marie Inch

Liberal Democrats

6Neil Eric Thornton

Reform UK

ShowHide

No published position found yet.

Democracy Club profile Party site

In their own words

Reform UK are delighted to announce that Neil Thornton will be our candidate in the forthcoming by-election in the Beechwood & Heath ward.

Neil is well known within the ward, having lived there for most of his life. He is the author of 12 books and was chair of the Todger Jones Statue Appeal that raised thousands to enable the bronze statue in the Memorial Garden to be erected.

Neil is committed to working to achieve the reinstatement of the Heath Park pond to its former splendour. Only Reform can deliver this for the people of Runcorn.

He will engage with Cheshire Police to make sure they tackle anti-social behaviour. And he will campaign to safeguard the character and amenity of the area.

🩵 Only a vote for Reform is a meaningful vote. A vote for any other Party is a vote for Labour.

It is only Reform who can deliver the change Runcorn needs.

Statement to voters supplied by the candidate to Democracy Club, retrieved 2026-10-26. Reproduced unedited.

Stood before

No previous candidacy on Democracy Club's record. Every candidate has this section.

Record in office

Open Neil's page →

Where this information comes from

Published positions on the ten topics

Are you this candidate, or their agent? If something here is wrong, email us and we will check it against the source.
Look yourself: the council's election notices · the party's site · leaflets archived for this area (electionleaflets.org, a Democracy Club project).

6Neil Eric Thornton

Reform UK

Photos appear only on each candidate's own page, so every candidate looks the same in this list. How much sourced material we found per party · Why isn't my party standing here?

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Go deeper: independent sources

None of these is affiliated with a party. Where a source campaigns for a position, the label says so. Links open the original site.

Cross-cutting: polling, fact-checking, parliamentary research

Commons Library: constituency data dashboards — House of Commons Library. Parliamentary research service, impartial by statute.
electionleaflets.org: archive of election leaflets, searchable by area — Democracy Club. Civic-technology archive; leaflets are the parties' own material.
Electoral Commission: political finance register (donations, loans, spending) — Electoral Commission. Official register.
Full Fact — Full Fact. Independent fact-checking charity.
House of Commons Library research briefings — House of Commons Library. Parliamentary research service, impartial by statute.
Institute for Government — Institute for Government. Independent think tank on how government works.
Ipsos Issues Index: what the public says matters most — Ipsos. Polling company (monthly, unprompted survey).
LG Inform: council performance and finance data — Local Government Association. Sector body for councils.
Local Elections Archive Project: every council result since 2002 — Andrew Teale. Independent archive from Returning Officers' data, CC BY-SA.
mySociety Local Intelligence Hub: data by constituency — mySociety. Civic-technology charity; non-partisan.
UK Parliament: Commons votes (every division, how each MP voted) — UK Parliament. Official record, Open Parliament Licence.
UK Parliament: petitions, with signatures by constituency — UK Parliament. Official record.

Cite this page

Harvard style. Every figure on the page also names its original source, which is usually the better thing to cite.

Halton Borough: Beechwood & Heath ward

The 6 on your paper in the order you’ll see them

Owen Ashworth

Dan Clarke

Ash Corcoran

Luke Jon Hanson

Diane Marie Inch

Neil Eric Thornton

Your local councillor

What this office decides

What it does not

Everyone on one page

1Owen Ashworth

In their own words

Stood before

Record in office

Where this information comes from

Published positions on the ten topics

1Owen Ashworth

2Dan Clarke

In their own words

Stood before

Record in office

Where this information comes from

Published positions on the ten topics

2Dan Clarke

3Ash Corcoran

In their own words

Stood before

Record in office

Where this information comes from

Published positions on the ten topics

3Ash Corcoran

4Luke Jon Hanson

In their own words

Stood before

Record in office

Where this information comes from

Published positions on the ten topics

4Luke Jon Hanson

5Diane Marie Inch

In their own words

Stood before

Record in office

Where this information comes from

Published positions on the ten topics

5Diane Marie Inch

6Neil Eric Thornton

In their own words

Stood before

Record in office

Where this information comes from

Published positions on the ten topics

6Neil Eric Thornton

Go deeper: independent sources

1Owen Ashworth

In their own words

Stood before

Record in office

Where this information comes from

Published positions on the ten topics

2Dan Clarke

In their own words

Stood before

Record in office

Where this information comes from

Published positions on the ten topics

3Ash Corcoran

In their own words

Stood before

Record in office

Where this information comes from

Published positions on the ten topics

4Luke Jon Hanson

In their own words

Stood before

Record in office

Where this information comes from

Published positions on the ten topics

5Diane Marie Inch