The first county council by-election since the general election has been called for next month.

The poll on November 21 was sparked by the death of independent member Cllr Peter Harman.

Cllr Harman, who represented Swanscombe and Greenhithe on Kent County Council (KCC) and Greenhithe and Knockhall at Dartford Borough Council, died suddenly in August, leading to elections to both seats.

At least five potential candidates will be named before nominations close on October 25.

Cllr Harman’s independent Swanscombe and Greenhithe Residents’ Association (SGRA) will name its choice to run on Monday, October 21.

The Green Party’s single member on Dartford council, Cllr Laura Edie, will contest the county seat.

Fellow borough councillor, Conservative Carol Gale will stand in the KCC division.

The Labour Party, Liberal Democrats and Reform UK have declared an intention to field candidates.

All eyes will be on the KCC result as all 81 seats are to be contested in May next year.

In 2021, Cllr Harman won the seat with 40% of the vote with Labour second (32%), Conservatives third (26%) and Reform UK fourth (2%).

SGRA’s endorsement of its own candidate to replace Cllr Harman should see them over the line easily, say observers.

All eyes will be on Reform UK to see if it manages to split the vote of the Conservatives and Labour.

Reform UK, which polled better in Kent than its national average during the general election, may have a significant impact on results next May.

Most of the opposition members at KCC, who believe they might form a rainbow alliance if the Tories fail to secure 41 or more seats, are unsure how it will end up.

More than 25 Tories of the 59 currently at County Hall are thought to be standing down and many back benchers fear they could lose heavily.

Others, like former KCC leader Sir Paul Carter, feel Labour is so unpopular with the public presently, the victory is there for the taking.

Because Cllr Harman’s death fell outside the six month exclusion time frame, the seats must go to a poll.

He had served 11 years at KCC.

The Greenhithe resident of 53 years was best known in recent times for his fight to reopen landslip-hit Galley Hill Road, calling for central government to intervene.

Cllr Harman had been in the fire service for 35 years before he retired.

The most recent by-election happened on October 17 when the Green Party secured a seat on Ashford Borough Council, beating Labour six just six votes.

It was previously held by Labour’s Sojan Joseph who was elected MP for the area in July.

The Green secured 299 votes to Labour’s 293. Reform UK came third with 216 and the Conservatives polled just 111. The turnout was 21%.