HYNDBURN

A LONG-running political battle between a father and daughter is set grip voters in Hyndburn as part of the 2013 county council elections.

Former Hyndburn mayor Coun Malcolm Pritchard, the only Independent representative at County Hall for East Lancashire, will be defending his Accrington North division berth against Labour’s Clare Pritchard.

His daughter is already deputy leader of the borough council, representing Milnshaw ward and on the town centre regeneration board.

Looking to dislodge the dynasty will be the Conservatives’ Nick Whittaker and Kerry Gormley, for the Green Party.

Hyndburn and Haslingden MP Graham Jones is relinquishing his Accrington North seat, with Labour Peel councillor Bernard Dawson looking to keep the red rose interests alive.

He will face opposition from Kath Pratt, for the Conservatives, UKIP’s Christopher Matthew and Kasia Jewell, for the Greens, and Alex Ross, standing as an Independent.

Elsewhere Conservative Munsif Dad is seeking to hold Accrington West, with Spring Hill borough coun- cillor Munsif Dad and UKIP’s Bobby Anwar lining up in opposition.

Another three-horse race in Great Harwood sees Labour’s Gareth Molineux pitted against Tory Peter Clarke and Ian Robinson, of Independents in Hyndburn.

Ex-borough council leader Peter Britcliffe is hoping to hold on to Oswaldtwistle for the Conservatives, with Collete McCormack, for Labour, and UKIP’s Paul Thompson out for an upset.

Current borough leader, Labour’s Miles Parkinson, is up against Warren Melia, for the Conservatives, and UKIP’s Craig Ramplee, in Rishton and Clayton-le-Moors.

RIBBLE VALLEY

A RESIDENTS’ campaigner is looking to upset the applecart as Ribble Valley goes to the polls next month.

Steve Rush, the chairman of Clitheroe Residents’ Action Group, is standing against the Liberal Democrats’ Allan Knox in Clitheroe.

But there will also be stiff opposition from Ian Brown, who represents the Salthill ward on the borough council, and Labour’s David Hinder.

The deputy leader of Lancashire County Council, Conservative Albert Atkinson, is hoping to see off three challengers in Ribble Valley North East. His opposition will come from UKIP’s Simon Kerins, Simon O’Rourke, a Salthill town councillor, and Labour’s Mike Rose.

Former county council chairman Chris Holtom is standing down and will not contest Ribble Valley South West.

His replacement for the Conservatives is Alan Schofield and he will be opposed by Lib Dem Valerie Cooper and Labour’s Paul Atkinson.

David Smith will defend Longridge with Bowland division, from challenges by Labour’s Gill Rose and Lib Dem James Shervey.

CHORLEY

LABOUR will be looking to even the odds in Chorley as the Conservatives defend six out of the seven seats on offer in the May polls.

Key targets for the opposition party will be Mark Perks, cabinet member for children and young people, in Chorley North, as he faces Labour’s Geoffrey O’Donoghue and Liberal Democrat Jeffrey Mallinson.

Sam Chapman, in Chorley South, will be pitted against Labour borough councillor Bev Murray, Lib Dem David Porter, Nigel Cecil for UKIP and Alistair Straw (Green).

And Peter Malpas’ contenders for Chorley West will include another Labour borough councillor, Steve Holgate.

Mr Malpas has already lost his Chorley South West borough council seat last year to Labour.

Labour’s Terry Brown will defend his party’s sole current seat, against Conservative Alison Hansford, UKIP’s Thomas Shorrock and Stephen Cross, for the Greens.

Veteran Tory councillor Pat Case is standing down for health reasons in Chorley Rural East, with David Moran nominally defending the seat, against Labour’s Kim Snape and Hayden Clewlow for UKIP.

BURNLEY

COUNTY council polls could lead to an electoral wipe-out for the far-right in Burnley for the first time in 11 years.

Sharon Wilkinson, who made history as the country’s first British National Party councillor, will not be defending her Padiham and Burnley West division when voters go the polls on May 2.

And with the BNP holding no borough seats, the party might have no representation in Burnley since David Edwards, Carol Hughes and Terence Grogan were elected in 2002.

Her seat will be nominally defended by Paul Robinson, for the BNP, with former Labour county councillor Marcus Johnstone, Liberal Democrat Sandra Byrne and Conservative Andrew Newhouse in opposition.

Elsewhere Lib Dem Charlie Briggs, a former borough leader, and ex-cabinet member Peter McCann have stood down in Burnley Central West and Burnley North East respectively.

Lib Dem colleague Neil Mottershead battles Labour veteran Tony Martin, Tory Mathew Isherwood, Independent Martyn Hurt and the BNP’s Christopher Vanns in the former.

And Lib Dem Janet Brown, Labour’s Terry Burns, UKIP’s Cameron Stewart and Lewis Auld, for the Conservative, will contest Burnley North East.

Another Lib Dem, Jeff Sumner, will stand and fight for his Burnley South West seat, against Labour’s Bea Foster, Tory Joe Barker and the BNP’s David Shapcott.

His Burnley Rural colleague Margaret Brindle is up against former Conservative mayor David Heginbotham, Labour cabinet member Mark Townsend, Tom Commis, for UKIP, and Independent Jordan Moreland.

Labour will be defending the single seat secured in 2009, the Burnley Central East division held by Dr Misfar Hassan, who stands again.

He will face ex-borough councillor Justin Birtwistle, for the Lib Dems, Conservative Tom Watson, Tony Bamber, of the BNP, and UKIP’s Jamie McGowan.

PENDLE

SOME familiar faces will be missing as Pendle voters go the county polls – but for vastly differing reasons.

County council cabinet member Mike Calvert has been deselected, Shelagh Derwent is retiring and George Askew, who moved 276 miles to Gloucestershire mid-term, will also not stand again.

Borough councillor Paul White will nominally defend Mr Calvert’s Pendle East seat against Labour’s Sheena Dunn, Liberal Democrat James Kerrigan, and John Rowe, for the BNP.

In Pendle West, vacated by Mrs Derwent, Conservative Christian Wakeford is pitted against Lib Dem Brian Newman and Labour’s Mark Porter. And Mr Askew’s Pendle Central division sees a six-horse race, with three main parties joined by UKIP, the BNP and British Democrats.

Mohammed Iqbal defends Brierfield and Nelson North against Conservative Tony Beckett, Lib Dem Iftikhar Ahmed and Independent Derek Mann.

Nelson South will see George Adam stand down, and ex-borough Labour leader Azhar Ali up against Lib Dem Asghar Ali and Conservative Neil McGowan.

Lib Dem David Whipp will try to wrestle back West Craven from Conservative incumbent Keith Bailey, amid UKIP and Labour challenges.

ROSSENDALE

CONSERVATIVES currently hold all five divisions in Rossendale – a feat unequalled in East Lancashire.

But determined challenges are expected from several political heavyweights, as the mid-term blues kick in for the Coalition.

Veteran Tory Peter Evans and borough leader Darryl Smith are standing down in Rossendale West and Rossendale South respectively.

Mr Evans’ seat will be defended by ex-borough councillor David Stansfield against Labour’s Marilyn Procter, former Liberal Democrat borough leader Catherine Pilling and UKIP’s Granville Barker.

And Coun Smith’s division will see Conservative Anne Cheetham battle Labour’s Liz McInnes, Lib Dem Joseph Donnelly and UKIP’s Michael Pickup.

Tony Winder, who holds Rossendale North, is facing borough Labour leader Alyson Barnes, Lib Dem Tim Nuttall and UKIP’s Tony Justice.

And Rossendale East sees Tory Jimmy Eaton defending against Labour’s Jackie Oakes, Lib Dem Bill Jackson, UKIP’s Ron Ashworth and Doug Spencer.

Sean Serridge (Labour) will be looking to win back his Whitworth seat from Conservative Peter Steen, with Lib Dem Lesley Ham and David Duthie, for UKIP, in opposition.