Ingrid Dodd took the Guston, Kingsdown and St Margaret’s-at-Cliffe seat for the Green Party by 34 votes from Reform UK’s James Defriend, in a ward the Conservatives had held since 2023. Turnout was 45%.
The Green Party has gained a seat on Dover District Council, with Ingrid Dodd winning the Guston, Kingsdown and St Margaret’s-at-Cliffe by-election held on Thursday 27 August 2026. The result was declared on Friday morning by returning officer Louise May.
Dodd polled 767 votes, 34 ahead of Reform UK’s James Defriend on 733. David Hawkes, standing as a Local Conservative in a ward where the Conservatives won both seats at the May 2023 elections with 43% of the vote, finished third on 456. Labour’s Steve Wisbey took 389, Restore Britain’s Jez Hermer 284, and independent Graham Wanstall 35.
Result in full
- Ingrid Dodd (The Green Party) — 767 — elected
- James Defriend (Reform UK) — 733
- David Hawkes (Local Conservatives) — 456
- Steve Wisbey (Labour Party) — 389
- Jez Hermer (Restore Britain) — 284
- Graham Wanstall (Independent) — 35
Of the ward’s 5,919 electors, 2,668 ballot papers were issued — a turnout of 45% — and four ballots were rejected. The by-election followed the resignation of one of the ward’s two Conservative councillors, and the result is a Green gain from the Conservatives.
A three-way squeeze
The winning margin of 34 votes made this the closest of contests in a six-candidate field. The combined vote for the three parties to the right of centre — Reform UK, the Local Conservatives and Restore Britain — came to 1,473, nearly double Dodd’s total, but split three ways it left the Green candidate first past the post.
The ward, which takes in rural and coastal communities between Dover and Deal including Guston, Kingsdown and St Margaret’s-at-Cliffe, had returned Conservative councillors at every contest since 2019. Dodd will represent it until the next full district council elections on 6 May 2027.
Dover District Council is currently run by a Labour minority administration.
Key information
- Result declared: Friday 28 August 2026, by returning officer Louise May
- Majority: 34 votes
- Turnout: 45% (2,668 of 5,919 electors; 4 ballots rejected)
- The seat is held until the next full Dover District Council elections on 6 May 2027
Sources
Guston, Kingsdown and St Margaret's-at-Cliffe By-Election Quiz
5 questions