Two possible candidates are straight out of the traps for any potential race to fill the vacancy in Castle Ward, Berwick upon Tweed created by the resignation of Philip Rowe.
Cllr Nicole Brooke, elected for Reform UK to Northumberland County Council (Berwick North) last year, is now an Independent candidate following her ousting from her former Party.
Cllr Brooke said: ‘I will be standing as an Independent and my politics will always be the very Best of British!
‘Serving at both the County and Town Council level will help me do exactly that through better communication, stronger collaboration and, above all, putting Berwick first.’
Colin Hardy has served previously for NCC in Norham and Islandshires.
Northumberland Conservatives Chairman, Cllr Guy Renner-Thompson, said: ‘Our candidate for the Castle Ward by-election will be Colin Hardy who lives in the ward and is keen to continue the good work he did as a County Councillor on Berwick Town Council. Colin is well known around the town for his charity work supporting the Motor Neurone Disease Association and other good causes.’
Candidates interested in standing have to be eligible, proposed and seconded. Details of how to stand can be found here.
A by-election will be called in 13 days if at least ten electors from the ward have written to the Returning Officer to request the by-election. The ballot has to be held by law within 60 days from the date of Notice of Vacancy.
The electoral procedure got off to a shaky start with Berwick Town Council delaying notification to Northumberland County Council of the vacancy, potentially by three weeks [exact date of Philip Rowe’s resignation isn’t clear]. It seems a town councillor was also involved in seeking potential candidates prior to the Notice of Vacancy being published.
Letters requesting a by-election can be sent by residents of Castle Ward only to The Returning Officer, Elections Office, Northumberland County Council, County Hall, Morpeth, NE61 2EF to arrive by 26 August, 2026.