Council by-election · Thursday, 22 October 2026

South Kesteven District: Grantham St Wulfram's ward

Name: South Kesteven District: Grantham St Wulfram's ward council by-election, 22 October 2026
Start: 2026-10-22T07:00:00+01:00
End: 2026-10-22T22:00:00+01:00
Location: South Kesteven District: Grantham St Wulfram's 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 22 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
Tim Galsworthy
No statement supplied.
Nothing published that we could source yet
No. 2Independent
Wayne Andrew Hasnip
No statement supplied.
Nothing published that we could source yet
No. 3Local Conservatives
Ben Lavender
No statement supplied.
Nothing published that we could source yet
No. 4Reform UK
Andy McKinlay
No statement supplied.
Nothing published that we could source yet
No. 5Independent
Marie Reid
“I am standing as your District Ward Councillor for St Wulfram’s because I believe I can make an even greater difference to our community.”
Nothing published that we could source yet
No. 6Green Party
Ian Paul Simmons
No statement supplied.
Nothing published that we could source yet

The result, Thursday, 22 October 2026

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Ben Lavender (elected)	Conservative and Unionist Party	437	38.3%
Andy McKinlay	Reform UK	286	25.1%
Marie Reid	Independent	149	13.1%
Tim Galsworthy	Labour Party	141	12.4%
Ian Paul Simmons	Green Party	74	6.5%
Wayne Andrew Hasnip	Independent	54	4.7%

1,141 valid votes, turnout 28.5% of 4,015 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 South Kesteven District: Grantham St Wulfram's 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.

Hide names and parties while I read

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.

1Tim Galsworthy

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 Tim'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).

1Tim Galsworthy

Labour Party

2Wayne Andrew Hasnip

Independent

ShowHide

No published position found yet.

Democracy Club profile

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 Wayne'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).

2Wayne Andrew Hasnip

Independent

3Ben Lavender

Local ConservativesBallot-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 Ben'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).

3Ben Lavender

Conservative and Unionist Party

4Andy McKinlay

Reform UK

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 Andy'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).

4Andy McKinlay

Reform UK

5Marie Reid

Independent

ShowHide

No published position found yet.

Democracy Club profile

In their own words

I am standing as your District Ward Councillor for St Wulfram’s because I believe I can make an even greater difference to our community. As a Town Councillor, and having served as both Vice-Chairman and Chairman, I have demonstrated my commitment to putting residents first, working constructively and getting things done. I want to bring that experience, determination and collaborative approach to the District Council. With Local Government Reorganisation bringing significant change and uncertainty, St Wulfram’s needs a strong, steady and accessible voice. I will work with residents, Councillors, Officers and community organisations to protect our interests and ensure Grantham continues to thrive.

I moved to Grantham in 1968, aged five, and consider myself a Granthamian. I grew up in St Wulfram’s Ward, attended primary and grammar schools, and have worked in financial services, administration and retail (all within St Wulfram's Ward).

My community involvement includes serving as President of Grantham Kesteven Rotaract Club and Grantham Junior Chamber, supporting events, charities and youth activities. I am also an active member of Grantham Twinning Association and a volunteer presenter on Grantham's local radio station.

I believe Grantham needs strong local voices to protect its interests and retain meaningful influence over its future.

As an Independent candidate, I have no party affiliation. I am standing because I care about St Wulfram’s Ward, Grantham and its residents, and believe we are stronger working together.

I can only win with your active support. Please lend me your vote.

Statement to voters supplied by the candidate to Democracy Club, retrieved 2026-10-19. Reproduced unedited.

Stood before

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

Record in office

Campaign leaflets archived

This campaign · 2026-10-07

From electionleaflets.org (Democracy Club). Leaflets are the party's own material, published as delivered; we check they are real, not that they are true. Earlier leaflets are from previous contests and may not reflect current positions.

Open Marie'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).

5Marie Reid

Independent

6Ian Paul Simmons

Green 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 Ian'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).

6Ian Paul Simmons

Green Party

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.

South Kesteven District: Grantham St Wulfram's ward

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

Tim Galsworthy

Wayne Andrew Hasnip

Ben Lavender

Andy McKinlay

Marie Reid

Ian Paul Simmons

Your local councillor

What this office decides

What it does not

Everyone on one page

1Tim Galsworthy

In their own words

Stood before

Record in office

Where this information comes from

Published positions on the ten topics

1Tim Galsworthy

2Wayne Andrew Hasnip

In their own words

Stood before

Record in office

Where this information comes from

Published positions on the ten topics

2Wayne Andrew Hasnip

3Ben Lavender

In their own words

Stood before

Record in office

Where this information comes from

Published positions on the ten topics

3Ben Lavender

4Andy McKinlay

In their own words

Stood before

Record in office

Where this information comes from

Published positions on the ten topics

4Andy McKinlay

5Marie Reid

In their own words

Stood before

Record in office

Campaign leaflets archived

Where this information comes from

Published positions on the ten topics

5Marie Reid

6Ian Paul Simmons

In their own words

Stood before

Record in office

Where this information comes from

Published positions on the ten topics

6Ian Paul Simmons

Go deeper: independent sources

1Tim Galsworthy

In their own words

Stood before

Record in office

Where this information comes from

Published positions on the ten topics

2Wayne Andrew Hasnip

In their own words

Stood before

Record in office

Where this information comes from

Published positions on the ten topics

3Ben Lavender

In their own words

Stood before

Record in office

Where this information comes from

Published positions on the ten topics

4Andy McKinlay

In their own words

Stood before

Record in office

Where this information comes from

Published positions on the ten topics