The vote on Thursday, July 30, was called following the death of long-serving councillor Cynthia Garton in May. The Liberal Democrats held the seat, with Jim Paine elected as the new borough councillor after topping the poll with 1,086 votes – securing a 497 majority. Conservative candidate Jerry Hall finished second on 589 votes, followed by Reform UK’s Neil Fleming on 443. The result means there is no change to the overall political make-up of Eastleigh Borough Council. The Liberal Democrats remain firmly in control with 35 councillors, alongside three members of the Independent Group and one Conservative.