BATTLE lines have been drawn as the parties across Colchester declared their runners and riders for the elections on May 6.

In three out of every four years, there is a borough council election in Colchester.

But last year elections were put on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic.

At the moment, Colchester Council is run by a coalition of the Liberal Democrats and Labour.

The Conservative Party is the largest single group with 21 seats, but it is five seats short of an overall majority.

The Liberal Democrats hold 13 seats, Labour 11, Green one and independents three.

There are 19 seats which will be fought over in the forthcoming election across the borough’s 17 wards.

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Those registered in the Prettygate and Lexden and Braiswick will vote for two candidates due to existing vacancies after long-standing councillors Beverly Davies and Brian Jarvis stepped down.

So what are the potential scenarios?

Firstly, because of election by thirds, the likelihood of largescale change is small, so the most likely outcome is for small change.

Colchester Borough Elections.boxes arrive.

 

However, due to the current political make up, a swing of just five seats could make all the difference.

This time not all incumbent councillors are standing with Liberal Democrat Thersea Higgins and Conservatives Christopher Arnold, Fiona Maclean and John Elliot not contesting their seats.

Deputy leader Julie Young will be hoping to hold onto her Greenstead seat for Labour while the council’s waste boss and Lib Dem group leader Martin Goss will hope to do the same with his Mile End seat.

Election - Julie Young is up for re-election

 

The Prettygate seats could be of interest with seven candidates - the most for any in the election as a result of the two vacancies.

Tory incumbent councillor Sue Lissimore will go up against Richard Bourne and Victoria Weaver for Labour, John Burgess and Natalie Edgoose for Green, Lib Dem candidates J Loxle and, fellow Tory Leigh Tate.

Former Tory leader Darius Laws will be hoping for a return to the council when he stands in the Rual North ward. Mr Laws lost is Castle ward seat in 2019 as the council got its first green councillor in Mark Goacher.

Colchester Borough Elections.Mark Goacher takes Darius Laws in Castle.

 

Lib Dem Mike Hogg is standing for the Lib Dems in St Anne’s and St John’s after initially considering stepping back after a Parkinson’s diagnosis.

There are also four Reform UK candidates. The party, which was formerly known as the Brexit Party, is standing in Rural North, Shrub End, Greenstead and Highwoods.

There are also no Ukip candidates standing this year.

For a full list of candidates visit gazette-news.co.uk.