Tories defending council seat after by-election triggered by politician jetting off to Australia

The Conservatives are defending a council seat after a Cumbria by-election was triggered by a Tory politician shirking his seat to jet off to Australia.

Back in April, Niyall Phillips resigned from both of his seats – the Hawcoat and Newbarns wards for Westmorland and Furness Council and another for the Hawcoat ward for Barrow Town Council – to work for BAE Systems.

After serving the local area for four years, Mr Phillips stepped down on April 10.

"It is exciting, I have not been to Australia before, to move to a new country next Wednesday will be good and challenging," he told the BBC.

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He added: "It is a bit disappointing to be leaving, but when an opportunity comes up, sometimes you have got to look at things a bit differently.

"The opportunity to go to Australia for two years, with the same employer, is not something that comes about often."

He further aired his "frustrations" regarding the "pace and will of somethings to happen" at the local level of Government.

However, on a more positive note, he admitted it was the "little win which make you feel like you are making a difference" and hoped to one day return as a councillor.

The last time seats were up for election was back in 2022 before Reform UK had a chance to contest the area.

Four years ago, the Tories were victorious with 40 per cent of the vote, with the Labour candidate coming in second place with 34 per cent.

The Independents snatched third place with 20 per cent of the share, while the Liberal Democrats took home six per cent of the votes.

The council areas are covered by three MPs in total, with former Lib Dem leader Tim Farron covering Westmorland Lonsdale.

Labour's Michelle Scrogham and Markus Campbell-Savours cover Barrow and Furness and Penrith and Solway, respectively.

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THE FULL LIST OF CANDIDATES STANDING (Westmorland and Furness Council):

• Rebekah Atkinson – Green Party
• Hazel Edwards – Reform UK
• Marco Fawcett – Conservative Party
• Mike Leach – Labour Party
• Stephen Pickthall – Liberal Democrats

THE FULL LIST OF CANDIDATES STANDING (Barrow Town Council):

• Terry Assouad – Labour Party
• Hazel Edwards – Reform UK
• Marco Fawcett – Conservative Party

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