OLDHAM is a key battleground for political parties looking to snatch seats from Labour in the General Election.
Voters will have 17 candidates to choose from on May 6 after the deadline for nominations closed at 4pm on April 20.
Labour was triumphant in all three seats five years ago — Oldham East and Saddleworth, Oldham West and Royton and Ashton — as the party clung to power.
But a resurgent Lib-Dems —boosted by leader Nick Clegg’s sudden surge in popularity and Conservatives are threatening Labour’s stronghold.
Labour Minister Phil Woolas made it a hat-trick of wins in 2005, having seized his seat from the Lib-Dems in 1997, but his majority of 3,590 over them makes it a key marginal. Former Rochdale councillor Elwyn Watkins is aiming to take the seat back for the Lib-Dems.
Conservative Kashif Ali is also looking to make gains, while also standing are Alwyn Stott, a well-known BNP candidate from Shaw who has stood before in local elections, David Bentley for UKIP and Gulzar Nazir for the Christian Party.
Michael Meacher is going for his 11th election victory in Oldham West and Royton, which he has held since 1970, and has a large majority of 10,454.
Last time out Mr Meacher’s majority was eroded by nearly 3,000 and Conservative Kamran Ghafoor will be aiming for an even greater swing in his favour against Oldham’s longest-serving MP in history.
The Lib-Dems will also be challenging hard with Oldham Council cabinet member Mark Alcock standing.
The Respect Party, an anti-war party set up in 2004 and led by George Galloway, are also represented by Shahid Miah, while David Joines stands for the BNP and Helen Roberts for UKIP.
Former Oldham Councillor David Heyes has a huge majority of nearly 14,000 after taking the Ashton seat in 2001.
The constituency covers parts of Hollinwood and Failsworth and the other candidates are Paul Larkin (Liberal Democrat), Seema Kennedy (Conservative), David Lomas (BNP) and Angela McManus (UKIP).
* denotes sitting candidate
| Party | No. of Candidates | No. of Pitches Submitted | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|
| BNP | 3 | 3 | 100% |
| Conservative | 3 | 3 | 100% |
| Labour | 3 | 3 | 100% |
| UKIP | 3 | 3 | 100% |
| Liberal Democrat | 3 | 3 | 100% |
| Christian Party | 1 | 1 | 100% |
| Respect - The Unity Coalition | 1 | 1 | 100% |
1.On election day, go to your local polling station. If you are disabled and will need assistance getting into the polling station, contact the electoral registration office to find out what help is available. If you require assistance in completing the ballot paper, you may take a companion with you when you vote or the staff in the polling station may help you.
2.Tell the staff inside the polling station your name and address so they can check that you are on the electoral register. You can show them your poll card, but you do not need it to vote.
3.The staff at the polling station will give you a ballot paper listing the parties and candidates you can vote for. It will be printed with an official mark. If you have a visual impairment, you can ask for a special voting device that allows you to vote on your own in secret.
4.Take your ballot paper into a polling booth so that no one can see how you vote. Mark a cross (X) in the box to the right of the name of the party or candidate you want to vote for. Do not write anything else on the paper or your vote may not be counted.
5.Finally, when you have marked your vote, fold the ballot paper in half and put it in the ballot box. Do not let anyone see your vote. If you are not clear on what to do, ask the staff at the polling station to help you.
Electoral Registration Office:
Elections Office
Room 222
Civic Centre
West Street
Oldham OL1 1UL
Tel: 0161 770 4712/8
E-mail: election@oldham.gov.uk
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