Final list of 12 candidates who will fight two crucial council by-elections next month

Candidates have been selected for two by-elections in Bolton following the resignation of two councillors. Voters in both the Kearsley and Westhoughton North and Hunger Hill wards will go to the polls on Thursday, November 16 to elect one representative for each area.

The elections are necessary after the resignations of One Kearsley founder and leader Paul Heslop in the Kearsley ward and Conservative member Bernadette Eckersley-Fallon in Westhoughton North and Hunger Hill. Both quit their posts just five months after being elected to Bolton Council in May.

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One Kearsley took all three seats in the ward in the May elections but in the same week that Mr Heslop resigned the two other One Kearsley elected members, Debbie Newall and Melanie Livesey, crossed the floor to become part of Bolton Council’s controlling Labour group.

That move meant the One Kearsley party disintegrated and they are not fielding a candidate in the by election. Labour currently control the council but do not have a majority of councillors.

The current make-up of the 60-strong council is, Labour -28, Conservative -15, Liberal Democrats -6, Horwich and Blackrod First -6, Farnworth and Kearsley First -2, Independent – 1 with the two vacancies to be decided. All those casting their votes in person need to be registered and to be in possession of a voter ID as per the rules introduced this year.

For information go to https://www.bolton.gov.uk/voting/vote.

COOPER, Charles – Liberal Democrats

DEAN, Malaika Noor Ayesha Jabeen Tai – Conservative

GREGORY, Dale Hindle – Reform