David Drew, former Stroud MP and long-time public servant, has been re-elected as a councillor for Stonehouse Town Council, aiming to help the community move beyond recent divisions. After stepping down from Gloucestershire County Council, Stroud District, and Stroud Town Council ahead of last year’s Shire Hall elections due to an “unnecessarily unpleasant” selection process within his former party, Labour, Drew has returned as an Independent.
In the recent North ward by-election, Drew secured 350 votes, winning decisively over Reform UK’s Jenny Cambridge, who received 153 votes, and Independent candidate Wendy Thomson, who garnered 57 votes. Having previously served 28 years on Stonehouse Town Council, Drew was encouraged by residents from diverse political backgrounds to stand again.
“There has been a lot of divisiveness in the town, and people want to move past that,” Drew told the Local Democracy Reporting Service. “I’m looking forward to working with longtime colleagues and new faces alike. I’m not a practising politician — just a voluntary activist dedicated to serving Stonehouse.”
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Reflecting on his extensive experience, Drew added, “I’ll reach 30 years on the council and then step back. For now, I’m committed to helping the community come together and serve its people.”
Local Labour members praised his decisive victory, with Stroud Labour Party acknowledging his “fantastic” win and highlighting it as a strong vote of confidence in his dedication to the community. The party also recognized him as a “dedicated champion back on the Town Council.”
The by-election saw a voter turnout of 22 percent, underscoring engagement from residents keen to support Drew’s return and vision for unity in Stonehouse.