Moss Bank vote set to be crucial (From St Helens Star)

Moss Bank vote set to be crucial

3:42pm Thursday 2nd July 2009

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CANDIDATES have been confirmed for a vital by-election which will decide the balance of political power at St Helens Council.

They will contest the seat left vacant in Moss Bank following the sudden death of Liberal Democrat councillor Anne Heyes in May.

Fine margins that currently dictate who holds power at St Helens Council mean the result will be crucial.

Accountant David Kent, aged 48, from Carr Mill will stand for the Lib Dems who are aiming to continue the three-seat grip they have held on the ward for the past decade.

Labour, meanwhile, have selected 58-year-old Jeffrey Fletcher, from Rainford, to represent them in an election which promises to be one of the most keenly contested for years.

He will be seeking an improvement on 2008 when he also stood in the ward and lost to Lib Dem Carole Kavanagh by 1047 votes.

The Conservatives, represented by Eccleston-based Madeleine Patricia Wilcock and The Green Party, through David Rothwell, from Rainhill, will be hoping to build on encouraging showings in the recent European Elections.

Meanwhile, Christopher Hackett from Haresfinch is standing as an independent candidate.

Both parties have already kicked off their campaigns for the election, which will be held on Thursday, July 16.

With the political constitution of the council standing with Labour holding 23 seats, Conservatives six and Lib Dems 18, the result will effectively decide who runs the council.

For the past three years, the Tories and Lib Dems have struck a power-sharing agreement to rule St Helens Town Hall and with no local elections this year, it appeared the trend would continue.

But the by-election has thrown the balance of power into the melting pot.

If Lib Dems retain the seat, the status quo will remain – but a Labour victory means they would be expected to seize control of the council for the first time since 2006.

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