Candidates have been announced for an upcoming by-election in the Wokingham Borough, the results of which could give the leading party an overall majority.

Wokingham Borough Council has been without a majority since 2022, but has been ran by the largest party in the chamber, the Liberal Democrats.

In May 2024, the Lib Dems secured 27 councillors, while the Conservatives held onto 19 and Labour eight, which combined to exactly matching the ruling party's number.

Now, a by-election for Shinfield has been set for December 5, after the resignation of former Labour councillor Sarah Bell.

The former councillor quit due to 'personal reasons', as she struggled to juggle family commitments alongside her ward members.

Although nominations remain open, all three parties have named their candidate for the December by-election.

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While nominations of candidates are open until November 8, all three main parties in the chamber have named their candidates, including two former councillors of the old 'Shinfield South' ward.

The Liberal Democrats have named Chris Johnson, who served as councillor for the old ward of Shinfield South for two years.

He then moved to stand in the Spencer’s Wood and Swallowfield ward in this year's local elections, and lost.

The Conservatives are putting forward Jackie Rance, another former councillor for the old ward Shinfield South.

The ward no longer exists after the political ward map was redrawn earlier this year.

Labour is hoping to retain their seat in Shinfield with candidate Becca Brown. She is a local to Shinfield and has never stood in for councillor before.

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Liberal Democrat Imogen Shepard-Du Bey said that said that given Mr Johnson has been councillor before, her party had a ‘very good chance’.

The executive member for finance and governance having full control ‘would be an added bonus’, but that regardless of who wins, ‘the reality is you have to work with everyone anyway’.

Although a victory could secure the Liberal Democrats a majority, materially not much would change, as they would retain their control of the council regardless.

Pauline Jorgensen, leader of the Conservative group, described Ms Rance as a 'brilliant' and 'very, very active' candidate.

Shinfield currently has one Conservative representative, Vishal Srinivasan, and Labour’s Andrew Grey.

Councillor Jorgensen said she thought the recent budget could sway local voters to go with the Conservatives.

She said: "We obviously don’t want the Lib Dems to have a majority because we think its helpful not to have a clear majority. There was one motion we passed the other day [because of it]."

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Labour councillor Alex Freeney said: “As I always tell voters on the doorstep, every Labour victory improves lives. In this case, Shinfield would get another councillor who is committed to representing the interests of local residents.”

Nominations for candidates from other parties or independent are still open until November 8.

All candidates will be confirmed on November 11.