Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council election preview

12:34pm Friday 27th April 2007

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IN BLACKBURN with Darwen, Labour faces a tough challenge to keep control of the council as a loss of one seat could see it lose overall power.

The party has a narrow majority of two with 33 seats, the Conservatives are the official opposition with 15, the Liberal Democrats have 13, there is one independent, and one For Darwen councillor. One seat was also vacated by the England First Party.

Labour has been in power since 1983 and the other parties are arguing it is time for a change but, even if Labour loses overall control, it is very unlikely another party would be able to rule without entering a coalition.

And the prospect of mainstream parties aligning themselves to any successful far-right party candidates also muddies the water.

Of the 22 seats up for grabs, Labour are defending 11, the Conservatives five and the Liberal Democrats four.

The British National Party is fielding five candidates, the right-wing England First Party three, For Darwen four, the Green Party two and there is one independent.

Big-hitters up for re-election include Kate Hollern, leader of the council, Maureen Bateson, executive member for children services, and Frank Connor, executive member for adult services.

Coun Colin Rigby, leader of the Tories, said: "There are some national issues coming out but, in general, it's the usual things that worry people like rubbish and crime."

Labour may gain and lose a couple of seats, as may the Liberal Democrats. But the key to the outcome is likely to be how many seats the Lib Dems gain.

The Tories are hoping not to lose their status as the official opposition.

Coun David Foster, leader of the Lib Dems, said: "A lot of people are saying to us that Labour have been in power for a generation and it is time for a change."

Coun Hollern said: "The borough has undergone a huge transformation under a Labour government and Labour council. People just need to look around to see the investment."

While those who have predicted Labour's demise have been proved wrong in the past, the reaction of the Muslim community to the war in Iraq lingers and there is a real possibility that the council could be hung come May 4.

But for those trying to make predictions, the effect of the new For Darwen party is uncertain.

The Lib Dems have previously tended to gain from dissatisfaction in Darwen but, with another party vying for the same votes, others may be let in through the back door.