Guildford South East Result Forms Part of a Lib Dem Clean Sweep in SCC By-elections

Published on: 17 Oct, 2025
Updated on: 17 Oct, 2025

Winning candidate Catherine Houston, Lib Dem

The Liberal Democrats won an emphatic victory at yesterday’s by election and the result along with two other Surrey by-elections tilts the balance of power further away from the decades-long Conservative dominance of Surrey County Council.

But Guildford Conservatives will take some comfort from coming second ahead of the incumbent party Residents for Guildford & Villages.

Reform UK might be disappointed with their fourth place position but most Guildford Divisions are unlikely to be happy hunting grounds for them and they were runners up in Caterham Valley and Camberley West where the Lib Dems were also victorious, holding their seats.

Guildford South East by-election result. It was an emphatic win for Catherine Houston securing 41 per cent of the vote.

Together, the three by-election results leave Surrey County Council with 39 Conservative, 19 Liberal Democrat, 16 Residents’ Association/Independent, 2 Labour, 2 Green, 2 Reform UK, and 1 non-aligned independent.

The Tories had already lost overall control in August but will remain in charge as the largest political group. Opposition councillors could win votes if 41 of them agree but differences in their positions on various policies make this unlikely although not impossible.

Asked for her reaction to the result Cllr Catherine Houston said: “I’m honoured to be elected as the new Liberal Democrat county councillor for Guildford South East Division.

“Thursday’s results across Surrey shows that local residents have lost all trust in the Conservatives. They want someone who will work hard for them on the issues that matter to them – road safety, fixing our broken roads and pavements, ensuring people get the services they need and of course getting value for money for their taxes. I will make these my focus as county councillor.

“This result builds on our Liberal Democrat win in 2023 when we took over leadership of Guildford Borough Council and in 2024 when Zöe Franklin was elected as Guildford’s MP.

“Residents know that they can trust the Lib Dems to deliver for them. They also show the Liberal Democrats are on track to end 50 years of Conservative failure in Surrey at the local elections for new unitary councils next year after being denied a vote to elect their county councillor this past May by the Surrey Conservatives begging the Labour Government to cancel the county elections.

“I have spoken to hundreds of Guildford South East residents on the doorstep these past six weeks. Like most people living in Surrey they are fed up with Conservative debt, pothole-plagued roads, and failing children’s services. It’s time for a fresh start.”

Alex Fiuza

Conservative candidate Alexander Fiuza said: “I am immensely grateful to the 788 who lent me their vote on Thursday, making me clear runner-up in the Guildford South East by-election, demonstrating real support for my campaigns.

And Guildford Reform UK chairman commented: “We are disappointed by the result, because for residents it means more of the same from a council whose debt has risen by 50 per cent in just one year — and as taxpayers, we all foot the bill for their poor decisions.

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