The efforts of Labour staff at Head Office, in the three regions and, most importantly, in southern constituencies has been rewarded by a significant increase in Labour candidates standing in next month’s local elections.
Across the political south Labour will be standing over 650 more candidates than 2007, when these seats were last up for election – an increase of 25%
Labour is contesting just over half of the seats up for election in the south west (up from 39% four years ago); 65% of seats in the south east (up from 53%) and an impressive 78% in the east of England*.
The figures are as follows (2007 in brackets):
South West
+148 Labour candidates
Labour candidates 643 (495)
Total councillors to be elected 1259 (1267)
Labour candidates as percentage 51% (39%)
South East
+223 Labour candidates
Labour candidates 1352 (1129)
Total councillors to be elected 2072 (2123)
Labour candidates as percentage 65% (53%)
East of England
+293 Labour candidates
Labour candidates 1155 (862)
Total councillors to be elected 1470 (1433)
Labour candidates as percentage 78% (60%)
Total for South
+664 Labour candidates
Labour candidates 3150 (2486)
Total councillors to be elected 4801 (4823)
Labour candidates as percentage 65% (52%)
Elections are not decided by the number of candidates; but you cannot win an election if you don't have a candidate in the race, and these figures suggest a Labour party in the south that is motivated and enthused. Thousands of additional southern voters now have the chance to vote Labour in next week's elections - the task now we have the candidates, is to get them elected.
* while these successes are the result of much work on the ground by a great many staff and members, Alan Olive in the East of England regional office deserves particular recognition.
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10 candidates in Havant (full slate). They were 7 in 2007
ReplyDeleteThanks - figures now reflect Havant's ten Labour candidates.
ReplyDelete21 out of 21 in Basingstoke, and the Libs can only manage 17. It is a national phenomenon according to the New Statesman. The Libs will only manage to fill between 52% and 60% of all seats nationwide, thanks to shrinking numbers of members prepared to stand and activists prepared to get nomination signatures.
ReplyDeleteAndy McCormick
Basingstoke
25 in East Hants where they have all-out elections - a good effort. Sadly 5 Tories returned unopposed and 5 seats where the only 2 candidates are from coalition parties.
ReplyDeleteWaveney should be the Target Council in the East
ReplyDeleteWell done to Basingstoke
Need to relook at Dorset and some parts of Devon
All out for 5th May
Get out on the streets in every town and village
lets show people we are alive and kicking
Mike
Country Standard
We wtill have a long way to go in some places. Woeful Test Valley: all 50 seats up for election, just 14 Labour candidates, 2 Tories returned unopposed, 4 wards where only coalition partners are standing. It ain't healthy and it ain't democracy.
ReplyDelete