A by-election to contest a vacant Isle of Wight council seat is likely to be held on 1st May 2025.
With Suzie Ellis no longer Central Rural’s Conservative County Hall representative, voters in the ward will soon be able to head to the polls to decide on her successor.
The Central Rural electoral division encompasses villages including Godshill, Arreton, Rookley and Chillerton.
An Isle of Wight council spokesperson said,
“Any current vacancies (as is the case with Central Rural electoral division) that have arisen within the six-month period prior to the 2025 IWC elections will be filled at a by-election to be held between 4th March 2025 and the 1st May 2025.
“It is our current intention that the by-election will be held on 1st May 2025.”
Elected by a comfortable margin
Ms Ellis was elected by a comfortable margin in the May 2021 Isle of Wight Council elections.
She received 619 votes – 306 ahead of the closest challenger – the Green Party’s Julia Laursen on 313.
The Labour Party’s Richard Hill also contested the seat in 2021, receiving 146 votes.
Cowes North
Isle of Wight West MP, Richard Quigley‘s office told OnTheWight that he also plans to step down from his role as Isle of Wight councillor for Cowes North in May 2025,
Last month, before OnTheWight’s report about town, parish and community council elections, Richard’s office advised that there may be other Isle of Wight councillors who also wish to stand down in May (and not carry on for another year), and he was therefore in discussions with the council.
IWC elections
Apart from the by-election, previously scheduled May 2025 Isle of Wight council elections will not be going ahead as part of the government’s devolution plans.
The Island’s town, parish and community council elections will however be held on 1st May 2025.
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is taking part in. Some alterations and additions may have been made by OnTheWight. Ed
