Southampton Labour has selected Tony Bunday as the party’s Bitterne Park candidate for next year’s local elections.

Bunday said in a tweet that he was “delighted” to have been selected, adding that he’s “lived in BP for 20+ years”.

“[It’s] a great place and I will work hard for the opportunity to represent it on the City Council,” he wrote.

 

Delighted that I’ve been selected by members of #bitternepark tonight to be @sotonitchenlab candidate for the ward at next year’s local elections.

I’ve lived in BP for 20+ years, its a great place and I will work hard for the opportunity to represent it on the City Council.

— Tony Bunday (@TonyBunday) November 30, 2021

 

Bunday was also Labour’s candidate for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight police and crime commissioner in May, but lost out to Conservative Donna Jones.

Southampton City Council currently has 48 democratically elected councillors, three representing each of the city’s 16 wards - although as we recently reported there’s a current consultation about possible changes to this.

In 2022 Conservative Rob Harwood, one three Bitterne Park Tory councillors, completes his four-year term, so it’s his seat up for election. It’s not yet known if he’s re-standing (we've asked), or who the other candidates will be.

This year Labour lost control of Southampton City Council for the first time since 2012, by two seats.

At the last local election in May this year, Conservative candidate Ivan White held his Bitterne Park seat by 714 votes.

The full results for the Bitterne Park ward at the May election in 2021 were:

Liberal Democrats - 229
Green - 533
Labour - 1213
Conservative - 1927 (Elected)

The turnout was 37.68%