Nominations for the Shard End by-election close this Friday, 30 October, with the first candidates already announced and voters due to go to the polls on Thursday 26 November.
The contest will fill the Birmingham City Council seat won by Reform UK in May. It follows the resignation earlier this month of councillor Alan Feeney, who stepped down from both Birmingham City Council and Solihull Borough Council after an ITV News undercover investigation made public recordings of him making derogatory remarks about Asian families. He had left Reform UK days before the recordings emerged, and has since apologised for the remarks.
Announcing his resignation, Mr Feeney said: “With responsibility comes accountability.”
With a month until polling day, campaigning is already under way in the ward.
Who is standing
The official list of candidates, known as the statement of persons nominated, will be published by the Returning Officer once nominations close. It is expected to be available after Friday 30 October 2026.
Labour has announced Gerald Dickson as its candidate. Democracy Club, which collates candidate information for UK elections, also lists Duncan Riley as an independent candidate.
Announcing Mr Dickson’s selection, Liam Byrne, Labour MP for Birmingham Hodge Hill and Solihull North, said: “Gerald brings 40 years of public service.” Mr Byrne said this included work as a paramedic and service as an Army Reservist in the Royal Army Medical Corps.
Reform UK councillors have been campaigning in the ward, and the party’s Birmingham group has described the contest as a “two-horse race” between Reform and Labour.
Further candidates are expected to be confirmed. West Midlands News will publish the full list once nominations have been confirmed by the Returning Officer.
How Shard End voted in May
Shard End elects one councillor to Birmingham City Council. Labour held the seat in 2018 and 2022, on both occasions through former council leader Ian Ward.
At the election on 7 May 2026, Reform UK gained the seat with a majority of 774 votes. Turnout was 29.04 per cent.
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alan Feeney | Reform UK | 1,262 | 51.3% |
| Fiona Williams | Labour and Co-operative Party | 488 | 19.8% |
| Harry Ballard | Green Party | 321 | 13.0% |
| Tony Briggs | Local Conservatives | 155 | 6.3% |
| Ginge Smyth | Independent | 132 | 5.4% |
| Christopher Barber | Liberal Democrats | 103 | 4.2% |
How to vote
Polling stations will be open from 7am to 10pm on Thursday 26 November. Voters will need to show an accepted form of photo ID at the polling station.
Key deadlines for the by-election are:
- Registering to vote: midnight on Tuesday 10 November 2026, online at gov.uk/register-to-vote
- Applying for a postal vote: 5pm on Wednesday 11 November 2026
- Applying for a proxy vote or a free Voter Authority Certificate (photo ID): 5pm on Wednesday 18 November 2026
Residents who are unsure whether they are registered, or where their polling station is, can contact Birmingham City Council’s elections office on 0121 303 2731 or at electionsoffice@birmingham.gov.uk.
