The coalition: will it survive?

ELECTION 2011: WITH just over a week to go before Oldham heads to the polls, local election candidates are preparing to battle it out for 20 seats on the council.

A total of 64 candidates are fighting for victory across 20 wards, with a third of the council’s 60 seats up for grabs.

And this year sees Labour and the Liberal Democrats hoping to snatch overall control.

The current council make-up is Labour and Liberals with 27 seats each, and the four Conservatives forming a controlling coalition with the Liberal Democrats.

Two seats are held by independents — former Green councillor Ian Barker (Failsworth West) and former Tory Len Quinn, who became independent earlier this year.

This year’s sees a neck-and-neck fight between Labour and the Lib-Dems — the parties are defending nine seats each, including Labour group leader Jim McMahon’s, while the Conservative Party hopes to retain its two seats which are up for grabs.

The main three parties are fielding candidates in 18 wards but there is no Conservative challenge in Failsworth West and Hollinwood.

Four independent candidates are hoping to win this year, while the Green Party has fielded two candidates.

There has been no challenge from right-wing parties England First or the British National Party, or from the left-wing Respect party, made famous by flamboyant former MP George Galloway.

Decision time nears for voters in Oldham, who head to the polls on Thursday, May 5, between 7am to 10pm.