VOTERS head to the polls today to vote for local councillors across Wigan and Leigh.

Across the country, the elections are being viewed as the final test of public opinion before the next General Election, which is believed to take place at some point later this year.

One out of three seats in each of Wigan borough’s 25 wards are being contested today (Thursday, May 2).

The elections are a chance for opposition parties or independent councillors to make a dent in Labour's dominance on the council, with last year's 'all out' elections seeing the party gain three councillors to make up 64 out of 75 seats.

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Candidates vying for election:

  • Abram: David William Bowker (Independent); Nazia Tabussam Rehman (Labour and Co-operative); Graham Trevor Suddick (Liberal Democrats); Janet Elizabeth Walch (Conservative).
  • Ashton-in-Makerfield South: Andrew John Bullen (Labour and Co-operative Party); Paul Martin (Conservative); Geoffrey Stephen Matthews (Liberal Democrats); Gary Wilkes (Independent)
  • Aspull, New Springs & Whelley: Laura Jean Flynn (Labour); Peter George Edmund Kitts (Green); Marie Winstanley (Conservative)
  • Astley: Sandra Elizabeth Robinson (Independent Network); Eileen Patricia Strathearn (Conservative); Barry John Taylor (Labour)
  • Atherton North: Paul Blinkhorn (Labour); Quinton John Smith (Atherton North Independent); David John Stirzaker (Conservative); James Paul Watson (Independent Network)
  • Atherton South & Lilford: Martin James Farrimond (Conservative); Rachel Flaszczak (Independent Network); Lee Robert McStein (Labour and Co-operative)
  • Bryn with Ashton-in-Makerfield North: Judith Atherton (Conservative); Margaret Therese Gaffney (Labour); Scarlett Myler (Independent) 
  • Douglas: Margaret Atherton (Conservative); Matt Dawber (Labour); Peter Ernest Jacobs (Green)
  • Golborne & Lowton West: Susan Gambles (Labour); Andrew Julian Lee Holland (Liberal Democrats); Edward Noel Houlton (Conservative); Richard Andrew Scott (Leigh and Atherton Independent)
  • Hindley: Oliver Peter Clark (Green); Dave Culshaw (Independent); Jim Ellis (Independent Network); Jordan Gaskell (Independent); Gerard Joseph Houlton (Conservative); John Charles Skipworth (Liberal Democrats); James Swift (Reform UK); James Talbot (Labour)
  • Hindley Green: Susan Atherton (Conservative); James Thomas Palmer (Labour); Ray Peters (Reform UK); Mark Prescott (Independent); Gary John Skipworth (Liberal Democrats)
  • Ince: Allan Atherton (Conservative); Janice Sharratt (Labour); Tony Whyte (Independent); Zoran C Zok (Independent)
  • Leigh Central & Higher Folds: Jean Dickinson (Conservative); James Edward Morley (Leigh Central Independent); Peter Mulleady (Green); Fred Walker (Labour); Stuart John Worthington (Liberal Democrats)
  • Leigh South: Jayson Allan Hargreaves (Leigh South Independent); Avril Ruth Murphy (Conservative); Christopher John Noon (Liberal Democrats); Brodie Andrew Prescott (Green) Charles Rigby (Labour)
  • Leigh West: Marie Elizabeth Cooper (Conservative); David John Evans (Leigh West Independent); Sue Greensmith (Labour); Rachel Harrop (Green)
  • Lowton East: Kathleen Houlton (Conservative); Mike Smith (Labour)
  • Orrell: Anne Collins (Labour); Robert F Kenyon (Reform UK); Neil Duncan Stevenson (Liberal Democrats); Michael William Winstanley (Conservative)
  • Pemberton: David John Burley (Liberal Democrats); Jean Margaret Peet (Conservative); Tony Porter (Independent); Eileen Winifred Rigby (Labour)
  • Shevington with Lower Ground & Moor: John Peter Burley (Liberal Democrats); Debbie Fairhurst (Shevington Independents Part of Wigan Independents); Vicky Galligan (Labour); Michael Colin Owens (Conservative); Peter Seddon (Workers)
  • Standish with Langtree: Gareth William Fairhurst (Standish Independents); Donald John Macnamara (Liberal Democrats); Terry Mugan (Labour); Gary Robinson (Conservative)
  • Tyldesley & Mosley Common: James Anthony Fish (Independent Network); Ashley McCarrick (Conservative); Farai Nhakaniso (Labour)
  • Wigan Central: Paul John Chapman (Conservative); Brian Craig Duff Crombie-Fisher (Liberal Democrats); Catherine Mary Croston (Independent); Lisa Diaz (Green); Michael McLoughlin (Labour)
  • Wigan West: Marjorie Clayton (Conservative); Sheila Rosaleen Ramsdale (Labour and Co-operative); Stuart David Thomas (Liberal Democrats)
  • Winstanley: John Carroll (Reform UK); John Christopher Logan (Green); Clive William Morgan (Labour); Robert Duncan Stevenson (Liberal Democrats); Margaret Mary Winstanley (Conservative)
  • Worsley Mesnes: Danny Cooke (Independent); Vincent Dean Holgate (Liberal Democrats); Adam James Marsh (Conservative); Paul David James Molyneux (Labour); Keith Andrew Whalley (Reform UK)