THE candidates for the upcoming by-election in Penistone East have been revealed.

Former councillor John Roberts has been selected as Labour’s candidate.

John, who served as the councillor for the ward between 2024 and this May, is standing to retake the seat for Labour.

He lost by 37 votes during the recent election and the Penistone born-and-bred man is hoping to work in the community he calls home.

He said: “I’m proud to have been chosen by Labour members in Penistone East to fight the upcoming by-election. It was the honour of my life to serve our communities as a local councillor before and I would be honoured to have the opportunity to do so again.

“If I’m elected, I will hit the ground running, working with Dr Alex Burnett and Frances Nixon, to stand up for our community. Penistone East needs another hard-working councillor who will get things done and deliver on the issues that you care about. We can achieve even more for our fantastic villages with a strong Labour team.”

Reform are hopeful Eunice Asante will fill the void left by Kay Hughes’s resignation just two months into the role.

Eunice stood in Darton East during May’s local elections. She received 1,082 votes in the ward which was subsequently won by three Lib Dem councillors.

Eunice said: “I’m a hard-working local resident and family woman, determined to build on the strong start Reform has already made and deliver a better future for my children’s generation.( “Since being elected, Reform have already started delivering change challenging wasteful council spending, reducing the cost of the Mayor’s office, bringing back the St George’s Flag at Barnsley Town Hall, standing up against damaging solar farm proposals and pushing for better, longer-lasting solutions to our roads.( I’m standing to continue that work putting residents first, protecting our countryside, ensuring taxpayers get value for money and making sure local people have a strong voice at Barnsley Council.”