Candidates Revealed for Caversham Heights By-Election

Candidates have been picked for a by-election to replace a Labour councillor in Caversham Heights, Reading.

Jenny McGrother was elected as the Labour councillor for Caversham Heights in the 2024 Reading Borough Council elections, beating Conservative Paul Carnell, who served as a councillor from 2019 to 2023.

Labour's Wrishi Basu hopes to hold the seat. He lives in Caversham Heights, runs an IT company and volunteers at the Royal Berkshire Hospital. He's focused on protecting local services like the Number 22 bus, improving life for residents-especially children and older people-and pushing for better walking and cycling routes, road and pavement repairs, and more tree and park investment.

Conservative Dave Luckett has been selected. He previously served as a councillor for Caversham ward from 208 to 2012. Mr Luckett said: "Caversham has been my home for over 20 years. It's where we're raising our daughter, and I care deeply about its future. I've never stopped working with and helping local residents, and I would welcome the opportunity to serve our community as a councillor once again."

The Conservatives are arguably favourites after winning both seats that were up for grabs at this year's local elections. Isobel Ballsdon was re-elected in Caversham Heights with 1,900 votes. Saadia Saadat was elected for the first time with 1,218 votes, taking the seat vacated by Labour councillor Sam Juthani, who resigned earlier this year prior to the end of his term in 2027.

The Green Party has selected Adil Khan. He said: "Having grown up and living in Caversham, intimately bound to its parks and river, I would like to give back to the community that raised me. I will listen and work with local residents to preserve our green spaces and protect our public services. In a challenging time for the country and the world, I believe that Caversham can demonstrate what a fair and sustainable society looks like while still addressing the everyday concerns of local people."

Dr Jo Ramsay is standing for the Liberal Democrats. She said: "I've lived in Caversham for over 25 years and, like you, I want to see our community thrive. My background - from telecoms engineering to social care - means I understand both local infrastructure and the needs of real people.

"Residents tell me the same things: potholes, poor flood drainage, unreliable buses, and crumbling pavements. These matter, and I'll fight to fix them.

"I'm equally committed to protecting our green spaces, improving health and social care, and keeping our neighbourhood safe. I'll also hold Reading's Labour council to account, challenging schemes where the costs don't stack up for local people and ensuring your money is spent wisely. Let's make Caversham Heights somewhere we're all proud to live."

In-person voting in the by-election will take place from 7am to 10pm on Thursday, 26 November. The statement of persons nominated has not been issued yet, so it is unclear whether a candidate for Reform UK or any independent candidates are in the running.

James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter