Reform UK has gained its first ever seat on Teignbridge District Council after 400 Teignmouth residents voted for Steve Horner to represent them in the Teignmouth West by-election.

Steve Horner said he was ‘excited’ after winning with a majority of 28 votes.

Liberal Democrat candidate Penny Lloyd came a close second with 372 votes.

Steve Horner, who was also standing in the Devon County Council elections, said he was ‘delighted’ although he ‘would have liked to have won both’.

Liberal Democrat Cllr David Cox was voted to represent Teignmouth at Devon County Council.

‘It’s exciting because we’ve got a massive job to do at every level,’ Steve said adding that he had already spoken with Liberal Democrat councillors, ‘who control things from a political point of view’.

‘I think we’ll get on just fine,’ he commented. ‘My questions might be a little bit awkward,’ he added. ‘But we’ll see how it goes.’

Steve Horner also revealed that he has applied to be co-opted onto Teignmouth Town Council.

There are currently two vacancies on Teignmouth Town Council following the resignations of councillor Steve Walsh and Deputy Mayor Chloe Myers.

‘I think the two (District and Town) are connected and a bit of connection between them that isn’t purely Lib Dem would be a good idea,’ Steve noted.

In his election manifesto, Steve said he intended to focus on democracy in councils by pushing for a free speech policy and promoting accountability and transparency. He also vowed to audit and push for councils to use taxpayers money responsibly and to challenge anti-British and sex/gender ideologies in schools.

‘We will change the way things are done. It will not be business as usual,’ his manifesto promised.