By-election in Pelsall launched following resignation of former leader
A by-election to elect a new representative for the Pelsall ward of Walsall will be held on Thursday, September 11, 2025.
The vacancy has been made available after the resignation of ward councillor, Garry Perry, on Thursday last week.
In announcing the move, Perry said there was ‘little point’ continuing within a system that has become ‘tone deaf to challenge’, where ‘transparency is often optional’ and ‘accountability a forgotten principle’.
Perry, who was leader of the council between June 2024 until May 2025, said recent deaths in his family had reshaped his outlook on life.
He resigned as leader of the authority in May after being subjected to ‘bullying and political attrition’.
In his most recent resignation as councillor for Pelsall, he said politics is in need of ‘urgent repair’ and that he could no longer be part of a culture where ‘intimidation is normalised, and dishonesty goes unchecked’.
Pelsall councillors, Councillor Rose Martin and Councillor Edward Lee, remain in post for the ward residents.
After a seat becomes vacant, a by-election can only be triggered if two or more existing members make a formal request for one.
If no request had been made, then the seat would have stayed empty until the next scheduled election on May 7, 2026.
It is unknown which members requested the by-election, and the unexpected expense on tax payers’ money is yet to be revealed.
Nominations for candidates will close at 4pm on Thursday, August, 14, 2025 and the names of candidates will be confirmed by 4pm on Friday, August 15, 2025.
Only people living in the ward of Pelsall will be able to vote, and they will begin receiving poll cards through the post next week.
On September 11, polling stations will be open from 7am until 10pm.
The count will take place later the same evening and it is anticipated that the result will be declared around midnight.
Walsall Council has reminded voters that they are required to bring an ID to be able to vote.
The deadline to register and be eligible to vote in this by-election is Tuesday, August 26, 2025. You can register to vote at: www.gov.uk/register-to-vote
The deadline to apply for a post vote is August 27, applications for a proxy vote must be submitted before September 3, and the deadline to apply for a free voter authority certificate is September 3.
