No Lib Dem candidates
Candidates for all Southampton wards have been published for the May 5 local elections. Here are the hopefuls for Bitterne Park and Portswood wards – interestingly with no Liberal Democrat candidates standing in either.
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Residents get the chance to decide who will represent them on the city council, and which party (if any) controls the council itself at the May 5 local elections.
Each ward has three councillors, with one (usually) completing their term of office each year and their seat being put up for election.
Unusually there are no Liberal Democrats standing in either ward this year. They announced an agreement with the Green Party that Lib Dems will stand down in Bitterne Park, Portswood and Millbrook wards, while the Greens won’t stand candidates in Bassett, Swaythling and Shirley.
Both parties are asking voters to consider backing their “partner party’s candidates in these wards”.
If last year’s results were replicated (they never are!) but with Lib Dem voters all backing the Green candidates locally instead, as can be seen from 2021's results (below) it would probably have little impact in Bitterne Park - but in Portswood the result could look quite different.
Bitterne Park ward
In Bitterne Park ward, which covers a large area including Townhill Park and Midanbury, it’s Conservative councillor Rob Harwood’s seat that’s up for grabs. He’s currently one of three Conservative councillors representing the ward.
The candidates standing are:
BUNDAY, Tony, Labour and Co-operative Party
FILEMAN, Vanessa Antonia, Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition
HARWOOD, Rob, Local Conservatives
MAKRAKIS, Helen Mary, Green Party
What happened last time
Liberal Democrats 229
Green Party 533
Labour Party 1213
The Conservative Party Candidate 1927 – Elected
Turnout 37.68%
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Portswood ward
In Portswood ward, which includes St Denys and Highfield, it's Labour councillor Lisa Mitchell’s seat that is up for election. She's currently one of three Labour councillors representing the ward.
The candidates standing are:
BARBOUR, Katherine Jane, Green Party
CHENG, Vikkie, Local Conservatives
MITCHELL, Lisa, Labour Party
TWINE, Tony, Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition
What happened last time
Green Party 1082
Liberal Democrat 718
Labour Party 1455 - Elected
Local Conservatives 670
Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition – 39
Turnout 36.86%
We hope to bring you more information about the choice of candidates in areas we cover soon.
Previously
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