THIS Thursday sees local elections across the country, with Salford City Council holding votes on a third of its seats across every ward.
The election is unlikely to be a surprise, as the controlling Labour group is unlikely to lose many of its 49 seats. This local focus means that parties are fighting on local issues that vary between wards, which could mean that results can’t be predicted according to the local picture.
Most of the parties have made campaign promises specifically for Salford – here’s a list of who’s standing where and what they’re offering voters.
To find your polling station, visit Salford City Council’s website here.
Labour
Where they’re standing: All seats
Campaign priorities: As the governing party, Labour has been highlighting what it sees as its achievements in running Salford City Council – their commitment to building new council houses is a flagship policy. The party has also hit out at government funding cuts, which they say will leave the council with almost £700 less to spend on each household.
Councillors and Salford’s Mayor Paul Dennett have also joined the Fight For Five campaign to save local nurseries. This comes after the council came under fire for proposing the closures, which councillors said was the result of central government cuts.
Conservatives
Where they’re standing: All seats
Campaign priorities: The Conservatives are running a campaign based on local issues, criticising the Labour council for several decisions including selling greenbelt land to developers. The Tories are also promising better transport infrastructure and better use of council tax – citing the lower levels of tax in neighbouring, Conservative-controlled Trafford as an example of how they intend to operate.
Liberal Democrats
Where they’re standing: All seats
Campaign priorities: The Liberal Democrats, who didn’t stand in 2016, have come back with a full slate for this election. Their campaign is largely focused on ending what the party calls Labour’s “monopoly over Salford” and providing opposition on City Council. The Lib Dems are also focusing on social and environmental issues in each ward including plans to tackle fly-tipping. Their local campaign has also featured their national policy of reversing the Brexit process.
Green Party
Where they’re standing: 18 seats (Barton, Boothstown and Ellenbrook, Broughton, Cadishead, Claremont, Eccles, Irwell Riverside, Kersal, Langworthy, Ordsall, Pendlebury, Swinton North, Swinton South, Walkden North, Walkden South, Weaste and Seedley, Winton, Worsley)
Campaign priorities: The Green Party’s main motivations are, as always, environmental. The Greens say they do not support the Council’s development plans, which they feel do not take “child-friendly, environmentally friendly” concerns into account. The Green Party also criticises the council for a lack of transparency over house-building plans, calling on the Labour councillors to clarify if the new developments will be affordable for Salford families.
UK Independence Party (UKIP)
Where they’re standing: 12 seats (Barton, Boothstown and Ellenbrook, Broughton, Eccles, Irwell Riverside, Kersal, Langworthy, Pendlebury, Swinton North, Walkden North, Weaste and Seedley, Winton)
Campaign priorities: UKIP’s presence in Salford has been low since the party’s heavy defeat in last year’s mayoral elections. Following a spate of resignations – including former Salford UKIP chair Joe O’Neill, the Eurosceptic party has managed to stand candidates in almost half of Salford’s wards. UKIP has not outlined its local policies, but its national manifesto includes promises to curb uncontrolled immigration and a commitment that “Brexit means exit”, standing firm on leaving the EU.
Community Revolution Party (CO:RE)
Where they’re standing: 2 seats (Cadishead, Irlam)
Campaign priorities: This new, local party is focused on bringing local politics into community control. Their policies focus on the two wards in which their founders, Darren Goulden and Marcus Graham, are standing – Irlam and Cadishead, respectively. CO:RE looks to promote greenbelt protection and local farming, end congestion and increase social care funding, among other policies.
It’s worth noting that both CO:RE candidates will be on the ballot paper as independents.
— CO:RE Party (@COREpartyUK) April 23, 2018
Other parties
There are a few, smaller parties standing candidates around Salford. Left-wing Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) are contesting Eccles and Winton. Swinton South will also be contested by the English Democrats and, most surprisingly, the Social Democratic Party – who will be fielding their first candidate in decades in former councillor Joe O’Neill, who has previously stood for the Liberal Democrats, UKIP and the Green Party.
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