Independents Gain Ground in Buckhurst Hill West By-Election
The recent Buckhurst Hill West Parish by-election was called under sad circumstances, following the passing of Conservative councillor Alan Weinberg and the resignation of Cllr Alexia Sparrow. It was a moment that brought the community together once again to decide who should speak up for Buckhurst Hill – not just at election time, but all year round.
In that spirit, the Epping Forest Independents proudly put forward two passionate, local candidates – Malachi Fontenelle and Lyubka Mihailova – both deeply rooted in our community and determined to give Buckhurst Hill a stronger independent voice.
Campaigning for Resident-led Local Change
Over the campaign, our team was out in force. Posters popped up in the windows of the local butchers, the 'Mathsnasium', and family homes across the ward. Every weekend – and often on Mondays and Tuesdays too – our volunteers were delivering leaflets, knocking on doors, and talking to residents about what really matters to Buckhurst Hill. Even a four-legged campaigner joined in to help deliver materials.
Malachi visited the Memory Café, a much-loved community project running since 2018 with support from the Parish Council – a place where residents connect and share. He also attended the Recreation and Community Committee meeting to understand more about local priorities.
We were proud to be endorsed by Club KO Buckhurst Hill and local campaigner Chelsea Noel, showing that our message of community before politics resonated widely.
Our campaign focused on key priorities:
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Put local people before politics – We’re not tied to any party line. We will always stand up for residents, not party bosses.
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Fix potholes and pavements – Let’s get back to basics and make our streets safer and easier to navigate.
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Protect our Green Belt and community identity – Developers see land as profit. We see it as home.
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Stop waste of taxpayers’ money – Every pound spent must be accounted for.
Malachi, a lifelong local and youth mentor, and Lyubka, a community campaigner who fought to save Buckhurst Hill Library, brought energy, compassion, and experience to every doorstep. Together, they showed that independent politics is about putting people first.
The Result – And What Comes Next
On the night, Reform UK took both seats, with the Conservatives and Greens close behind. The full results were:
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Reform UK – 976 votes (33.4%)
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Conservatives – 768 votes (26.2%)
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Green Party – 682 votes (23.3%)
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Independents – 320 votes (11.0%)
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Liberal Democrats – 180 votes (6.2%)
Our Independents – Malachi Fontenelle, Lyubka Mihailova, and also Casta Littlewood who ran her own effort – may not have won this time, but their efforts were inspiring. They ran positive, resident-led campaigns that connected with people across Buckhurst Hill.
And here’s the key point: Independents were the only group aside from Reform to increase their vote share compared with last year’s district elections. That’s real progress – and clear proof that community-focused voices are growing stronger here.
A Message of Thanks
The Epping Forest Independents were founded to do politics differently – to give residents a genuine choice beyond the old party system. This by-election showed that appetite is growing for that change.
To everyone who displayed a poster, opened their door, shared a kind word, or cast a vote for independence from party politics – thank you. You’re helping to build something new and important in Epping Forest.
Malachi and Lyubka, and Casta may not have taken seats this time, but they’ve laid the groundwork for the future. They’ve shown what it means to campaign with integrity, positivity, and heart – and they’ve proven that residents standing up for residents is a message that resonates.
Because this isn’t about left or right – It’s about us, the residents.