Tories field full list of candidates at elections
THE Tories are standing a full slate of candidates in this year’s Manchester council elections after a ‘huge’ last-minute push to find hopefuls – but the Liberal Democrats are fielding nobody at all in some parts of the city.
The official list of candidates, published on Monday, also shows just four people running for Ukip.
Manchester will see an ‘all-out’ election on May 3 due to boundary changes, meaning every one of the city’s 96 seats will be up for grabs – instead of the usual 32.
Last week the website Conservative Home reported that due to ‘atrophy’ of the local party, the Tories were experiencing ‘real difficulties’ finding candidates.
“It appears that in some wards there is a genuine risk that people might find there is no Conservative candidate to vote for,” it said, adding that officials from Conservative party headquarters had been drafted in to persuade at least one person to stand in each ward.
In the end, the party has ended up standing a full slate of 96, with local insiders describing a ‘huge’ effort to find a hopeful for every seat and get the necessary 10 signatures nomination forms.
Meanwhile, the Lib Dems are not standing anyone at all in Moston, Harpurhey, Miles Platting and Newton Heath and only one candidate in Ardwick, Charlestown, Cheetham, Crumpsall and Higher Blackley.
It is understood the party has focused its resources on standing a full slate of three candidates in the most ‘winnable’ wards as it looks to build up an opposition group on the council, fielding several first-time hopefuls alongside veterans such as former councillor Jackie Pearcey and sitting councillor John Leech.
Ukip are fielding just four candidates in total, city-wide, down from 13 at the last local election in 2016.
The Greens are standing someone in every ward, including a full slate in both Chorlton and Whalley Range, while two hopefuls from the Women’s Equality Party are putting themselves forward in Deansgate and Chorlton.
Two candidates are also running for the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition and one for the Communist League.
Four independents are standing – including ‘Oink A-Lot,’ in Northenden, and homelessness campaigner Nick Buckley in Deansgate. for the