BALANCE OF POWER: Tory minority
LIKELY TO CHANGE? Anything is possible, a clear majority is unlikely

THE importance of Pendle to the three main political parties cannot be overstated – hence the recent visits by Prime Minister David Cameron, Labour deputy leader Harriet Harman, shadow chancellor Ed Balls and LibDem Treasury chief secretary Danny Alexander.

A weather vane seat at next year’s general election the results on the ground tomorrow will tell the political high commands not just whether sitting Conservative MP Andrew Stephenson will hold his seat but who is on course to run the country from May 2015.

Borough leader Joe Cooney hopes the economic recovery is enough to keep control in some form or another on Friday. Mr Cameron praised the council’s £10,000 grants to help businesses ‘expand, grow and create more jobs for local people’.

Labour leader Mohammed Iqbal will be confident of defending his Bradley seat, but less certain about winning enough new seats to form a majority administration or even do a deal with the LibDems to take control.

LibDem fixer Tony Greaves will be hoping not only to hold the balance of power again but see his wife Heather win Boulsworth and rejoin him on the council. 18-year-old Tory Lyle Davy bids to become one of the youngest councillors in the country.