Alliance enters the fray while Greens step up commitment

The new Independent Alliance party is putting forward three nominees in Airdrie and Coatbridge as one of three smaller parties appearing on ballot papers in the seven wards across Monklands.

Joining them will be the Greens and Ukip, both fielding candidates in a full election of all of North Lanarkshire’s councillors for the first time.

Among the Alliance’s eight candidates – mostly incumbent former Labour councillors who have resigned from that party – are Peter Sullivan in Airdrie Central, and Jim Brooks and John Higgins, both standing in Coatbridge South.

Councillor Higgins told the Advertiser: “There’s been a lot of work done by lots of people to get the new party established, and our big priorities are all local things and about fighting for local people.

“We both want to get things done in Coatbridge – like improving Main Street and the town centre, getting housing there, fighting for repairs and sorting out the roads at Shawhead.”

Councillor Brooks added that his two Coatbridge party colleagues are both seeking election in their current ward, rather than one having sought nomination in a different area of the town. “It would be like leaving a family as we’ve both represented this area for a long time,”he said.

The Green party is fielding four candidates across Airdrie and Coatbridge, among a combined North Lanarkshire total of nine – and their local activists are enthused about the month-long campaign ahead.

Airdrie South candidate Rosemary McGowan said:“We’re really excited because there hasn’t been a real opportunity in North Lanarkshire to vote Green before and we’ve felt that lack at previous elections.

“This is an opportunity for people to vote to make a difference to communities, on different issues across North Lanarkshire. I’m particularly interested in the air pollution issue in Chapelhall where I live, protecting the Woodhall and Faskine green belt, and mitigating the Tory austerity agenda.

“Local democracy is about people being able to say what affects them. This is the start of our journey in getting Green voices in North Lanarkshire and we want to galvanise support and do something to make a difference.”

Ukip’s local candidates are Daryl Gardner in Airdrie North and Sean Cairns in the Glenboig seat, contributing to a total of eight across North Lanarkshire.