Election rivals get in line for battle

THE runners and riders vying to become your MPs at next month’s general election have been officially confirmed.

Political parties are now moving into full campaign mode after the calling of the first winter election for nearly a century.

It has been dubbed ‘The Brexit Election’ by some, as it was called in an attempt to break the parliamentary deadlock over the country’s withdrawal from the European Union.

In 2016, a decisive 60.7 per cent of Rossendale’s voters backed leaving the EU, but how has that changed over the past three years, and how much will other issues such as the NHS, housing and the environment figure in voters’ thinking as they head out to the ballot box on December 12?

ROSSENDALE AND DARWEN

Four candidates will battle to become Rossendale’s next MP, with Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage’s decision to make way for incumbent Conservative MPs potentially boosting Jake Berry’s bid for re-election.

Northern Powerhouse Minister Mr Berry was first elected to the Valley seat in 2010, and will again take on Labour’s Rossendale council leader Alyson Barnes, who he defeated by a reduced majority of 3,216 in June 2017.

As with that election, Labour and the Conservatives will be challenged by the so-called Remain alliance parties the Liberal Democrats and Greens, who are each fielding new candidates, Paul Valentine, of Leyland and Sarah Hall, of Burnley, respectively. The Liberal Democrats achieved 3.1pc at the 2017 poll, and the Greens 1.6pc of the vote.

Mr Farage’s Leave-backing party had previously unveiled Nadine Mason as its candidate for the seat, but earlier this month the party pulled out of the Rossendale & Darwen race.

Candidates: Alyson Barnes - The Labour Party, Jake Berry - The Conservative Party, Sarah Elizabeth Hall - Green Party, Paul Anthony Valentine - Liberal Democrats

HYNDBURN (includes Haslingden)

Unlike Rossendale & Darwen, Labour-held Hyndburn will be contested by a Brexit Party candidate in a five-way fight.

Incumbent Graham Jones will be bidding to defend his 5,815 majority from 2017 and earn a fourth term in the Commons.

Oswaldtwistle councillor Sara Britcliffe is standing as the Conservative candidate and is hoping to turn the seat blue for the first time in 27 years.

The 24-year-old follows in the footsteps of her father and former Hyndburn council leader Peter Britcliffe who stood for election in 1997 and 2001.

Falklands War veteran Gregory Butt was announced as the Brexit Party’s candidate in August.

He will be aiming to capitalise on the Brexit referendum result in 2016 which saw Hyndburn vote 66.2pc in favour of leaving the EU.

Also standing are Adam Waller-Slack for the Liberal Democrats and Katrina Brockbank for the Green Party. The Liberal Democrats didn’t stand in the Hyndburn constituency at the last election and will be looking to remain votes to improve on their 1.8pc share at the 2015 election.

The Green Party are also returning to the ballot paper after recording a 2.6pc share four years ago.

Candidates: Sara Britcliffe - The Conservative Party, Katrina Brockbank - Green Party, Gregory Butt - Brexit Party, Graham Jones - The Labour Party, Adam Waller Slack - Liberal Democrats

BURY NORTH

A bellwether seat, it went against national consensus in 2017 when it elected Labour’s James Frith with a majority of more than 4,000. Frith has been outspoken in calls for a second referendum, and it remains to be seen whether voters in this Brexit-backing seat will punish him for it.

The Tories were disappointed to lose the seat two years ago, and they’ll be hopeful of putting that right, represented by Bury’s Conservative leader James Daly.

The Liberal Democrats, the Brexit Party and the Green Party make up the other contestants.

Candidates: Charlie Allen - Green Party, James Daly - The Conservative Party, James Frith - The Labour Party, Gareth LloydJohnson - Liberal Democrats, Alan McCarthy - Brexit Party

●● Nicola Bailey, owner of Bright and Beautiful Rossendale