After former Reform UK councillor Andy Osborn lost his seat on Cambridgeshire County Council over a Facebook post made during the 2025 local election campaign while Osborn was serving as chairman of Reform UK in North East Cambridgeshire, a by-election is set to take place in Fenland. This is followed by his failure to lodge an appeal against his recent electoral law conviction within the required timeframe.
Cambridgeshire County Council confirmed on 12 May 2026 that Osborn is “no longer a county councillor” for the Roman Bank and Peckover division after the court confirmed no appeal had been filed in time.
In an official statement, the council said:
“We have now received confirmation from the court that Mr Osborn has not lodged an appeal in time; therefore, he is no longer a county councillor.
We will be making the necessary arrangements to convene a by-election for the Roman Bank and Peckover division in Fenland.”
Conviction Following A Social Media Post
After being found guilty of making or publishing a false statement under the Representation of the People Act 1983, Osborn, 74, was convicted last month at Westminster Magistrates’ Court.
A Facebook post claiming that Conservative candidate Samantha Hoy had been “sacked for fraud” while working in the care industry was made by Osborn during the 2025 local election campaign. He was then serving as the chairman of Reform UK in North East Cambridgeshire.
Hoy, who works in the care sector, has never been dismissed for fraud-related allegations and currently serves as both a county and district councillor. She later publicly responded to the allegations, calling them “an absolute lie and extremely defamatory and damaging.”
During court proceedings, the judge rejected the defence and found him guilty of the offence, while Osborn claimed his Facebook account had been hacked.
Seat Vacant After No Appeal
In the first official statement, the county council stated on 11 May and 27 April that Osborn intended to appeal the court’s decision, meaning that as “an unaligned, independent County Councillor suspended from the duties of his office,” his council seat technically remained occupied during the appeal period.
County Returning Officer and Chief Executive Dr Stephen Moir previously said:
“Mr Osborn remains entitled to hold this council seat until the appeal against the judgement of the court has been discharged.”
The council noted that as the seat remains legally occupied, there was no need for the by-election, meaning under electoral regulations, the vacancy would only officially arise if the appeal failed, was withdrawn, or was not lodged before the deadline.
Following the confirmation of the appeal not submitted in time, the seat has now formally become vacant.
Next Steps for the Council
Reform UK is growing visibly in parts of Cambridgeshire, which sets an expectation of wider debates around the by-election, given that Roman Bank and Peckover division covers areas of Wisbech and surrounding villages in Fenland, where local concerns such as housing, transport, healthcare access, and rural infrastructure remain key voter issues. The vacancy also raises questions about political accountability and the impact misinformation can have during election campaigns.
Cambridgeshire County Council has said preparations are now underway to organise the by-election, although an official polling date has not yet been announced.
This means the upcoming vote will decide the new representation for residents in the Roman Bank and Peckover division at the county level. At the same time, political parties are expected to begin selecting candidates in the coming weeks amid increased political scrutiny across local government.
