Currently Cllr Mark Townsend leads a minority Labour administration with 22 councillors. Ranged up against it are eight Liberal Democrats, six Conservatives, six Burnley and Padiham Independent Party councillors, two Greens and one Independent. With 15 wards up for election and 61 candidates from seven parties standing the campaign is turning out to be a real dogfight. Labour needs just one gain to form a majority able to implement its priorities of jobs and pandemic recovery but will really struggle to achieve this - and even hold on to the eight wards it is defending. The Liberal Democrats are confident of regaining the Coal Clough with Deerplay seat which went Labour when retiring councillor Bill Brindle defected and are eyeing an unlikely victory in Daneshouse and Stoneyholme.
Burnley political dogfight as divided borough goes to the polls thisislancashire.co.uk - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from thisislancashire.co.uk Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
TWO new parties will be contesting wards in May 6 s local elections. The Reform Party, founded by Brexit Party s Nigel Farage in January, will fight four seats in the Hyndburn Borough poll and three in the Lancashire County Council elections. The Social Democratic Party, reformed in 2018 30 years after the original one merged with the Liberals to form the Liberal Democrats, is fielding one candidate in the Burnley Borough poll. The Reform Party has nominated Jake Allen in St Andrews ward, Wayne Fitzharris in Overton, Sarah Fitzharris in Netherton and Ian Robinson in Rishton in the Hyndburn Borough poll. Mr Robinson and Mr Fitzharris will also contest the two county council seats up for election in the Great Harwood, Rishton, Clayton-le-Moors, and Altham division and Mr Allen the Oswaldtwistle ward.
New parties to stand in Hyndburn and Burnley elections lancashiretelegraph.co.uk - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from lancashiretelegraph.co.uk Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.