These candidates were declared elected unopposed with effect from the date of the closing of nominations, and there was no need to hold a by-election.

Changing parties without holding a by-election would feel like a betrayal, he said.

He contested the seat the last time it held a by-election in 1994 and said that he preferred to concentrate on raising the party's profile around the country.

Prior to the election, there had been several by-elections held with no change to the council composition.