Nominations closed for May council elections

Over 140 candidates vying for posts at Civic Centre

Nominations have closed for next month’s North Lanarkshire Council election, with a total of 142 candidates standing for the 77 posts at the Civic Centre.

The SNP is fielding 43 candidates and Labour has 42, while the Conservatives are similarly on the ballot paper in all 21 wards across the authority.

Also seeking votes on May 5 are seven candidates from the Green party, six Alba representatives, five from the Scottish Family Party, three Liberal Democrats, two from UKIP and one each from British Unionists, Freedom Alliance, Independence for Scotland, Social Democratic and Scottish Socialist parties.

Jim Logue, the leader of the council for the past six years, is bidding for reelection in Airdrie Central and will become the only member of the first North Lanarkshire assembly from its 1995 creation to remain in office if returned next month.

The SNP group is led by Councillor Jordan Linden, who says his group is “an administration in waiting” as they aim to take control of the council for the first time in its history; while the Conservative party is led into the 2022 election by Airdrie North representative Sandy Watson.

Each ward in North Lanarkshire will return either three or four councillors, chosen under the single transferable vote system, with Coatbridge North the most-contested area with nine candidates – compared to Airdrie South where there are just five candidates for four seats.

Five former councillors are among those bidding to return next month, including Independence for Scotland candidate Julie Mcanulty in Coatbridge North. Meanwhile, aiming to move to a

different ward is Labour member Peter Kelly, who is switching from Fortissat to Airdrie South.

Nearly a third of North Lanarkshire’s current members are not standing for re-election, with 24 stepping down from their roles – including depute provost Tom Castles in Coatbridge West.

Also standing down is former SNP group leader David Stocks, who is retiring, and Airdrie Central party colleague Nancy Pettigrew, along with Caroline Stephen in Coatbridge West.

Conservative Airdrie North representative David Cullen is standing down due to work commitments,

while Independent member Tommy Morgan, the long-serving former Labour representative in Plains and later Airdrie North, is stepping down after more than 35 years as a councillor on North Lanarkshire and predecessor Monklands District Council.

Also not appearing on the ballot papers this time around is Lynne Anderson of the Alba party.

North Lanarkshire residents – including young people aged 16 and 17 – have until midnight on April 18 to register to vote in the council poll on Thursday, May 5, at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote, using their national insurance number, date of birth and address.

Voters then have until 5pm on April 19 to apply for new postal votes, postal proxy votes or to amend or cancel existing postal and proxy votes.

The deadline for proxy vote applications is 5pm on April 26.

Information is available at www. electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/ voter

Returning officer Des Murray said: “It’s important that everyone who is eligible is able to use their vote in the council elections and make their voice heard.

“I would encourage residents to take a few minutes to make sure they’re registered by April 18. It’s quick and easy to do online.”

In it to win it The successful candidates will have their voices heard at council headquarters