The Welsh Liberal Democrats have gained the Fairwood seat on Swansea Council from the Conservatives in a by-election held on Thursday.
Beth Rowe was elected for the Welsh Liberal Democrats with 240 votes, taking a seat the Conservatives had held comfortably at the last full council elections.
The by-election was called following the death of Conservative councillor Paxton Hood-Williams, a former Lord Mayor of Swansea, who represented the Gower ward of Fairwood.
One of the council’s longest-serving members, he had served as Lord Mayor in 2024 and died earlier this year following a short illness.
Rowe took 29.3% of the vote, up almost 20 points on the Liberal Democrat share in 2022, when the party finished fourth in the ward.
Welsh Labour’s Nigel Evans came second with 185 votes, on 22.6% — a fall of more than nine points on the party’s 2022 showing.
Reform UK, standing in the ward for the first time, came third with 139 votes, a 17% share on its debut.
Independent candidate Paul Dennis took 94 votes, while the Conservatives’ David William Helliwell finished fifth with 84 votes.
The result marked a dramatic fall for the Conservatives, whose vote share dropped from 41% in 2022 to 10.3% — a decline of more than 30 points.
Plaid Cymru did not field a candidate, having taken 18% in the ward in 2022. Matthew Alan Ward, who stood for Plaid at the last election, contested the seat without a party description this time, taking 77 votes.
Newly elected Rowe thanked residents for their support and spoke of her long ties to the area.
“I’d like to thank everyone in Fairwood for their support. I have spent many years in the community with my grandparents and horses, and it really is a home from home,” she said.
She said she intended to use what remained of the community budget to invest in local priorities.
“I’m looking forward to working with the community councils and continuing my work with Gower commoners,” she added.
Rowe also paid tribute to Killay councillors Jeff and Mary Jones, whom she described as friends and mentors.
The leader of the opposition on Swansea Council, Liberal Democrat councillor Chris Holley, welcomed her to the group.
“I am pleased to be able to welcome Beth to the official opposition group, who will join us in continuing to hold Labour to account locally,” he said.
Holley said the result positioned his party to challenge Labour at the next council elections.
“Here in Swansea the Lib Dems are well placed to beat Labour next year, and do so by stopping Reform UK. Our councillors have a strong record of local action and that is what people want right now,” he said.
The full Swansea Council elections are due to take place in 2027.
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