Conservatives look to take back Surrey council after beating Liberal Democrats and Labour in by-elections

Newly elected Elmbridge Borough Councillor Colin McFarlane and John O’Reilly  (image John Cope)
-Credit: (Image: John Cope)


The Conservative election turnaround in Surrey shows no sign of slowing after the party beat the Liberal Democrats and independents to take two more seats at the October 2024 by-elections. Voters in Elmbridge backed the Tories in both seats contested on Thursday, October 10 - holding on to Weybridge and winning Hersham Village.

The polls were called following the death of former Conservative councillor and “ community champion” Charu Sood, who died after a cancer battle in August, and the resignation of Chester Chandler. The two victories build on other Tory wins in Surrey with the party winning in Waverley Borough Council following a huge 19 per cent swing and victory in Runnymede where they doubled Labour ’s vote share.

The wins have left the Conservative group leader on Elmbridge Borough Council in buoyant mood and talking up the possibility of going into coalition with the residents groups to offer “a better approach”. Councillor John Cop said: “We’re back, after a couple of difficult years it's amazing to see the council group grow again.

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“I think it was a combination of two factors. Firstly there was a very clear rejection on the door of what the Liberal Democrat council has done. The Hersham community has been treated really poorly. There’s been the closure of the community centres, still not fully reopen and there was a lot of concern around high rise buildings going up on the town centre - and the council not getting a local plan in place leaving us open to development.

“Secondly. there was a real anger at the new Labour government, winter fuel coming in, and talking down the economy, I think that was why we saw such a dramatic turnaround." Elections in Elmbridge take place every year, with the fourth year left free for the county council ballot.

The Conservatives had not won in Hersham since 2021. Cllr Cope put the reversal in fortune down to the popularity of their candidate whom he dubbed "Mr Hersham". In Weybridge, the party held on to narrowly hold the seat, in what was their first victory there since 2022.

The new council now comprises 21 Liberal Democrats, easily the largest party, 13 Residents Associations Group members, 11 Conservatives, two Hinchley Wood RAG and one independent. It leaves the door open for a change of control at the top should the residents associations go into coalition with the Conservatives, something Cllr Cope said he would look to do.

Cllr Cope said: “We would welcome going into coalition with the residents associations and change the council for the better. I would be more than happy to talk to the residents’ associations to see if they would prefer a different approach."

Weybridge St Georges Hill results in full

  • Colin McFarlane: Conservative Party 608 votes, 46.0 per cent (Elected)

  • Andrew Kelly: Weybridge and St George's Independents 598 votes, 45.2 per cent

  • Brittany Johansson, Green Party, 116 votes 8.8 per cent

Turnout 19.7 per cent

Hersham Village

  • John O’Reilly. Conservative Party 1029 votes 55.4 per cent (Elected)

  • Vasha Khodiyar, Liberal Democrats 736 votes 39.6 per cent

  • Francis Eldergill. Labour Party 94 votes 5.1 per cent

Turnout 27.1 per cent