The Lib Dems held the Carshalton South and Clockhouse ward after a by-election on Sutton Council with a 52.2% majority.
A total of 3,205 votes were cast, with Reform UK surging to third place far ahead of Labour.
The Conservatives came second with around 200 more votes than Reform.
First time candidate Lisa Webster, who won it for the Lib Dems with 1,674 votes, will join Conservatives Moira Butt and Tim Crowley to keep the ward split.
The by-election was triggered following the resignation of former Lib-Dem Amy Haldane, who stood down due to family commitments last month.
The Carshalton South and Clockhouse ward is isolated in the south of the borough, surrounded by farmland and the hills leading to nearby Coulsdon.
Carshalton South and Clockhouse by-election results in full
Lisa Webster (Liberal Democrats) – 1,674
Christopher Da Cruz (Local Conservatives) – 767
Arlene Dearlove (Reform UK) – 573
John Keys (Labour) – 89
Peter Friel (Green) – 79
Ashley Dickenson (Christian People’s Alliance) – 23
Total votes – 3,205
Reform UK’s Arlene Dearlove performed well on the night, gaining 17.9% of the vote share. In past elections, the third seat was closely fought between the Conservatives and Lib Dems with rivals often far behind, but Reform’s rise has challenged that trend despite coming up slightly short.
Councillor Webster is a member of the Good Shepard Church and the Clockhouse Community Association. She lives with her children and husband in Carshalton Beeches.
Lib Dem councillors were quick to show their support for Cllr Webster, who will soon join them in Sutton’s largest party. Councillor Jake Short, whose own Sutton Central ward saw a by-election last month, was one of the first to congratulate Cllr Webster.
On X he said: “BOOOM! Lisa is going to be a fantastic councillor for Carshalton South with an emphatic majority even despite the Tories throwing everything at it.
“Twice now residents in Sutton Borough have backed our record of action and promise of more. Next year everyone has the chance to.”
Don’t miss out on the biggest South London news. Sign up to our MySouthLondon newsletter HERE for all the latest daily news and more.
Cllr Webster’s predecessor, Cllr Haldane, was first elected to the ward in 2014 and had battled as the only Lib Dem councillor since. However, throughout 2025 she had not attended a single council meeting, giving apologies for all.
Former Deputy Leader and fellow Lib Dem David Bartolucci also stepped down earlier this year due to successive council meeting absences. Under Sutton Council rules, elected councillors can be disqualified if they fail to attend council meetings for six months.
He was replaced by fellow Lib Dem and first-time candidate Richard Choi, solidifying the Lib Dems’ dominance of the council.
Following last night’s result, Sutton Council comprises 28 Lib Dem councillors, 21 Conservatives, 2 Labour and 3 Sutton Independent Resident councillors. The next local election is to be held in May of next year.
