74 battle it out for 20 seats on council

LOCAL ELECTIONS 2010

WITH just two days to go until Oldham goes to the polls, it’s a nail-biting time for local election candidates.

A total of 74 candidates are fighting for victory across 20 wards with a third of the council’s 60 seats up for grabs.

The current constituency is 30 Lib-Dems, 22 Labour, six Conservatives and two independents.

This year the Lib-Dems are defending 10 seats, Labour eight seats and the Tories one seat with one independent seat up for election.

The big three parties are fielding candidates in all 20 wards, the Respect Party — made by famous by flamboyant MP George Galloway — have four candidates in the running and there are eight independent hopefuls.

Right wingers England First and the British National Party are standing just one candidate each.

There are four cabinet members fighting to keep their seat — Lib-Dem councillors Mohib Uddin (regeneration), Lynne Thompson (finance), Rod Blyth (people and communities) and John McCann (leisure and housing).

Labour is bringing back some familiar faces as it battles to regain control of Oldham Council. Former Mayor John Battye, Hugh McDonald, Barbara Dawson, Jean Stretton, Phil Harrison, Dilys Fletcher and Joe Fitzpatrick are all hoping to return to local politics.

Current councillors Peter Dean (Failsworth East), Jean Jones (Medlock Vale) and David Shaw (Royton South) will step down meaning there will be at least three new faces on Oldham Council.

Catch up with the candidates at www.oldham-chronicle.co.uk/news-features/elections/