Stockport voters will go to the polls next month in what looks to be another tightly-fought battle for control of the town hall.
The council is currently run by Labour despite the Lib Dems emerging as the largest group at last year’s local elections.
Labour kept hold of the reins as the Conservatives and other opposition groups refused to oust leader Coun Elise Wilson before the end of her term. As things stand Labour holds 25 of the council’s 63 seats, with the Lib Dems just ahead on 26.
It means another tense election night lies ahead, with the eight strong Tory group again likely to be in a ‘kingmaker’ position once all the votes are in. Behind the scenes deals - and possibly another crunch councillor vote - may be needed before anything is settled.
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All eyes are sure to be on Cheadle Hulme North - the borough’s bellwether seat - for an indication of which way the electoral wind is blowing. Back in 2018 Coun David Meller - now Labour’s cabinet member for economy - won the seat by just two votes, with the result taking no fewer than three recounts.
He remains the ward’s lone Labour councillor - with the other two seats taken by the Lib Dems- and will need to fend off the challenge of Michael Hannon (Lib Dem), Brian Dougal (Conservative) and Michael Padfield (Green) to ensure that remains the case. Stepping Hill again looks to be a three-way fight between Labour, Lib Dems and the Tories. Coun Rory Leonard’s victory last year was one of few bright spots on what was a disappointing night for Labour.
But whether his party colleague Christine Carrigan or Lib Dem candidate Pete West are able to oust Conservative incumbent Coun John Wright remains to be seen. Offerton could be another tightly fought Labour/Lib Dem contest, Joe Barratt finishing a narrow second last year.
But the well-known ‘Foodie Friday’ founder is standing in Bredbury and Woodley this time. And with veteran Lib Dem Coun Chris Gordon stepping down, he could go one better on May 5.
Conservative Coun Oliver Johnstone returned to the council last year at the expense of the Lib Dems - but Coun Paul Ankers will be fighting hard to defend his seat and fend off another Tory gain at this election.
Last year’s biggest shock was the Greens Coun Gary Lawson defeating Yvonne Guariento to take Reddish South. And with Con Jude Wells, cabinet member for adult social care, standing down, there is a possibility Labour could be vulnerable again in this ward.
Manor also looks to be hotly contested between Labour, who currently hold the seat and the Lib Dems.
Another intriguing clash contest is in Davenport and Cale Green where Labour leader Coun Elise Wilson comes up against one of her staunchest critics - John Pearson of Stockport Fights Austerity No to Cuts.
Polls open on May 5, but people must be registered to vote by midnight on Thursday, April 14.
A full list of candidates standing in Stockport has now been published.
Bramhall North
Deborah Hind - Green
Frankie SINGLETON - Liberal Democrats
Terry TALLIS - Labour
Lisa WALKER - Conservative
Bramhall South & Woodford
Andrew DEARDEN - Green
Yvonne GUARIENTO - Labour
John MCGAHAN - Conservative
Ian POWNEY - Liberal Democrats
Bredbury & Woodley
Joe BARRATT - Labour
Tim MORLEY - Conservative
Vince SHAW - Liberal Democrats
Stephanie WYATT - Green
Bredbury Green & Romiley
Sally BENNETT - Conservative
Angie CLARK - Liberal Democrats
Lucy PRIEST - Green
Rachel WISE - Labour
Brinnington & Central
Susan INGHAM - Liberal Democrats
Carolyn LEATHER - Green
Rosalind LLOYD - Conservative
Amanda PEERS - Labour and Co-operative
Cheadle & Gatley
Alexander DRURY - Green
Ian HUNTER - Liberal Democrats
Colin OWEN - Labour
Adrian WALMSLEY - Conservative
Cheadle Hulme North
Brian DOUGAL - Conservative
Michael HANNON - Liberal Democrats
David MELLER - Labour
Michael PADFIELD - Green
Cheadle Hulme South
Peter CROSSEN - Conservative
Taff DAVIES - Reform UK
Helen FOSTER-GRIME - Liberal Democrats
Barry HAWKINS - Labour
Andrew O`SHEA - Green
Davenport & Cale Green
Charles GIBSON - Liberal Democrats
William HANSON - Green
Dottie HOPKINS - Reform UK
Michael LYONS - Conservative
John PEARSON - Stockport Fights Austerity No to Cuts
Elise WILSON - Labour
Edgeley & Cheadle Heath
Louise HEYWOOD - Labour
Shaughan RICK - Green
Lynn SCHOFIELD - Reform UK
Karl SEPPMAN - Conservative
Tracey WHITMORE - Liberal Democrats
Hazel Grove
Paul ANKERS - Liberal Democrats
CatherineDE CADORETTE - Green
Georgia LYNOTT - Labour
Tony MOORE - Conservative
Heald Green
Gemma BOWKER - Liberal Democrats
Kath PRIESTLEY - Labour
Chitra RAMACHANDRAN - Green
Yvonne SALMONS - Conservative
Catherine STUART - Heald Green
Heatons North
Diane COFFEY - Women's Equality Party
Jason DAVIS-D`CRUZ - Conservative
Sam DUGDALE - Green
Jenny HUMPHREYS - Liberal Democrats
John TAYLOR - Labour
Heatons South
Natalie FENTON - Conservative
Tom MCGEE - Labour Party
Jeffrey SCROGGIE - Liberal Democrats
Sophie TYRRELL - Green
Manor
Sue GLITHERO - Labour
Janice MCGAHAN - Conservative
Mike NASH - Liberal Democrats
Antony RABLEN - Green
Marple North
John BRIGHT - Green
Annette FINNIE - Conservative
Steve GRIBBON - Liberal Democrats
Claire VIBERT - Labour
Marple South & High Lane
Andrew LORD - Conservative
Colin MACALISTER - Liberal Democrats
Andrew THRELFALL - Green
Paul WRIGHT - Labour and Co-operative
Offerton
Andrew BAKER - Conservative
Will DAWSON - Liberal Democrats
Simon EDGE - Green
John KELLY - Reform UK
Will SHARP - Labour
Reddish North
Geoffrey ABELL - Liberal Democrats
Hamida JAWEED - Conservative
Paula KING - Women’s Equality Party
Helena MELLISH - Green
David WILSON - Labour
Reddish South
Liz Crix - Green
Mark Jones - Liberal Democrats
Holly MCCORMACK - Labour
Hassan SAJJAD - Conservative
Stepping Hill
Christine CARRIGAN - Labour and Co-operative Party
Stephen SPEAKMAN - Reform UK
Steve TORLEY - Green
Pete WEST - Liberal Democrats
John WRIGHT - Conservative
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