The date has been set for the race to replace former Oldham Reform leader councillor Lewis Quigg.

A by-election is due to be held in the Oldham council ward of Royton North on December 3. The election was prompted by the resignation of the former councillor on October 23.

The day before, the LDRS reported Mr Quigg who has been a councillor for Royton North since 2022, had resigned from Reform UK mid-investigation. This was confirmed by the party in an official statement.

Mr Quigg was one of Reform’s first councillors in the borough alongside Sandra Ball and Mark Wilkinson. He led the group into the 2026 local elections where the party won 13 out of the 20 seats available and the most votes.

He was replaced as leader of the borough’s second largest group in September by Mark Wilkinson who himself resigned later that month citing health issues. Oldham Reform is now led by Waterhead councillor Paul Taylor who hopes to build on the party’s success in the borough moving forward.

The upcoming by-election in Royton North will be the second this year. Another election is due to be held on November 12 to replace Mr Wilkinson.

In Royton, candidates are required to be nominated by November 6 which will then be announced on November 9. In order to vote in the election, people will have to register by November 17.

Polls will be open on November 3 between 7am and 10pm.

Reform won Royton North handily in the 2026 local elections with 59 percent of the vote and Labour in second place with a distant 13.8pc. The Conservatives had previously held the seat.

According to political forecaster Britain Elects, Royton North was one of eight wards across the region that was won by Reform in the Greater Manchester Mayor by-election that was held in July. The party won 38pc of the vote while Labour won 34.3pc

In a public statement on his Facebook profile on October 23, Lewis Quigg said: “Following a break abroad where I have been out of contact with ongoings at home, the past 48 hours have put immense pressure on my immediate family. A line I am not allowing to be crossed.

“I have made the decision following a discussion with them to resign as a councillor completely. I intend to leave politics completely as I wish to lead a private life away from public life and politics.

“I consider my time in public office over and will not engage with anyone regarding this resignation any further.”

The day before, the Oldham branch of Reform put out a statement on their Facebook page, which said: “The Oldham Reform Group can confirm that Councillor Lewis Quigg has resigned from the Reform Group with immediate effect.

“This decision follows a difference of perspective regarding internal policy matters.”

The candidates running in the Failsworth West by-election are as follows:

  • Chris Baddeley – Reform UK

  • Stephen Eric Davenport – The Conservative Party

  • Pete Davis – Labour and Co-Operative Party

  • Rob Gunn – Restore Britain

  • Andrew Kevin Jones – Green Party

  • Lynne Christine Thompson – Liberal Democrats