Labour’s Rob Birch wins Burntwood Town Council by-election

Labour has claimed victory in a Burntwood Town Council by-election.

Rob Birch won the vacant Boney Hay seat by 530 votes to 297.

It had previously been held by the Conservatives until Natasha Pullen resigned following her election to Staffordshire County Council.

But the Tories failed to hold the seat, with Brian Bacon missing out.

Cllr Birch had previously been earmarked for a seat in the Chasetown ward before the Conservatives put forward Cllr Norma Bacon as a candidate, something Labour say went against an agreement between the two parties – and Cllr Bacon went on to become the leader of the town council just three weeks later.