Full list of candidates confirmed for Harrogate Bilton and Nidd Gorge by-election

It has now been confirmed who will be standing during the 6 May election which is being held following the death of Liberal Democrat councillor Geoff Webber.

There are six candidates including Conservative councillor Matt Scott who represents the Bilton Woodfield ward on Harrogate Borough Council, as well as Andrew Kempston-Parkes, a local businessman who previously served as a Liberal Democrat borough councillor for the ward.

The Harrogate and District Green Party has announced former borough councillor Arnold Warneken as its candidate, while Tyler Reeton will stand in his first election for the Labour Party.

The final names on the list are the Yorkshire Party's John Hall who previously stood to be MP for Thirsk and Malton in 2019 and also for the Harrogate Starbeck seat on the borough council in 2018, and Harvey Alexander, a former UKIP member who is now standing as an independent.

Election campaigning across the UK is currently paused following the death of the Duke of Edinburgh, although it will resume later today after tributes are paid to Prince Philip in the House of Commons.

Campaigning will pause again on Saturday, the day of the duke's funeral.

Harrogate MP pays tribute after death of Prince Philip is announced by Buckingham Palace

Elections for county councillors, mayors and police and crime commissioners across England are being held on 6 May, although a full election for all seats on North Yorkshire County Council is not because the authority will soon cease to exist under plans for local government reorganisation.

Under the plans, North Yorkshire's current two-tier system of the county council and seven district councils will either be replaced by a single authority or two authorities split on an east/west basis. Elections to the new council structure will take place in May 2022.

Meanwhile, there are no elections for Harrogate Borough Council this year.

And because of the plans for local government reorganisation, it is likely they will never be held again.

The borough council is running the Bilton and Nidd Gorge by-election on behalf of North Yorkshire County Council.

For more information go to www.harrogate.gov.uk/voting-elections/county-elections

By Jacob Webster, Local Democracy Reporter