Broxtowe’s largest independent political group has retained one of its seats in Stapleford after a council by-election.
Broxtowe Alliance candidate Sarah Louise Camplin won Broxtowe Borough Council’s Stapleford South East seat in a by-election on Thursday (December 4) with 388 votes – 143 votes more than runner-up Reform UK candidate Sunil Limbachia.
The by-election came after the passing of Broxtowe Alliance councillor Ross Bofinger in August 2025.
The political group is a registered political party and is the largest independent group on the council, forming a minority administration with 19 out of 44 seats.
Broxtowe Alliance’s momentum has continued all year since the formation of the group back in early January 2025, when, at the time, 20 Labour councillors stood down from the Labour party in protest to some policies such as cutting the winter fuel allowance for some pensioners.
After the dramatic defection, two councillors in the original announcement chose to remain as Labour due to personal circumstances, and Councillor Tyler Marsh defected from Labour to the group, making the total number 19.
In May 2025’s local elections, Broxtowe Alliance’s Teresa Cullen – also a borough councillor – secured one Nottinghamshire County Council seat in the Beeston Central and Rylands division just months after the new party’s formation.
There were feelings that Reform UK had a good chance of taking the Stapleford seat in Thursday’s by-election after the party performed well in Broxtowe in May’s County Council elections, taking six out of the area’s nine county seats and winning both seats in the Stapleford and Broxtowe Central division.
But Broxtowe Alliance’s momentum continues after Ms Camplin secured a comfortable win on Thursday, retaining the group’s Stapleford seat.
In a statement Ms Camplin said: “Thank you to the people of Stapleford for putting their faith in me. This shows that we don’t have to accept division in our politics and that a progressive alliance can offer a strong community voice.
“When it comes to local issues that matter to them, especially the deeply unpopular proposals for local government reorganisation, people are sick of being ignored by Westminster.
“I would also like to thank the Green Party and Broxtowe Independent Group who stood down in this by-election and endorsed my candidacy.”
She said her priorities for Stapleford and the borough include parking, speeding in Stapleford and working to “stop Stapleford being merged with Nottingham City Council” in the upcoming plans for local government reorganisation.
Responding to the group’s momentum in the borough, she said: “Broxtowe Alliance promised to be the progressive, community alternative to the failed Westminster parties.
“That’s why I joined and why people backed us last night. We offer a strong community voice while also showing that we can deliver top-quality public services on difficult budgets. We are on the side of local people, and I think they know that.”
Voter turnout was 28 per cent, with 1,124 votes cast out of an electorate of 3,986. Three ballot papers were rejected.
By-election full results:
- Keith Robert Bacon (Labour) – 128 votes
- Bradley James Bell (Conservative) – 108 votes
- Sarah Louise Camplin (Broxtowe Alliance – Putting Local People First) – 388 votes – ELECTED
- Lorraine Longford (Independent) – 103 votes
- Sunil Limbachia (Reform UK) – 245 votes
- Simon Peter Roche (Liberal Democrats) – 149 votes
