STANDFIRST

TODAY Local Democracy Reporter Bill Jacobs look at the hotly-contested and finely-balanced council election campaign in Hyndburn.

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HYNDBURN politics has been a mess ever since its Labour leader Cllr Miles Parkinson quit the party at a dramatic council meeting in March.

And the local election campaign is showing every sign of being similar fuelled by bitter personal rivalries as much as by ideological differences.

Allegations of dirty tricks are flying from all sides as Cllr Parkinson fights for his political future.

His resignation from Labour led to a string of his colleagues doing the same leaving him still leader of the council with the support of the Conservatives.

Currently there are five Independent councillors including former Tory Cllr Pat McGinley who is standing down.

There are 15 Tories including Cllr Loraine Cox who defected from Labour despite her husband Paul (a former council deputy leader) remaining in the party.

Labour has 13 councillors and The Green Party two.

But all that could change on May 4 as 38 candidates fight for 12 council seats.

There are no election in Oswaldtwistle's St Andrews ward, Great Harwood's Netherton seat and Accrington's Peel and Spring Hill wards.

The sensational Labour split seems to have its roots in a major falling out between Cllr Parkinson and his once close political ally Graham Jones - the former MP now selected by Labour to try and win the seat back from Sara Britcliffe who is the daughter of senior Tory councillor Peter.

But with Cllr Loraine Cox defending her seat in Church while her husband is up for re-election for Labour in Milnshaw ward and Cllr Parkinson's wife Bernadette selected to fight Clayton-le-Moors for the Conservatives the bitterness from recent events seems deeper and more personal than ever.

Labour has put up candidates in all 12 wards with its two current deputy leaders Melissa Fisher in Clayton-le-Moors and Kate Walsh in Rishton up for election. Former Huncoat councillor Dave Parkins returns to the fray in his old seat.

The party has high hopes of putting the past behind it an regaining control in this always hotly contested borough.

The Conservatives have 11 hopefuls including another former senior Labour figure Ken Moss.

They have not put forward an candidate in Mr Parkinson' Altham ward claiming two possible choices dropped out at a late stage.

But they have not extended the same courtesy to another former senior figure turned Independent Cllr June Harrison in Barnfield where they hope Shahed Mahmood can finally get elected to the council.

The Green Party - which gained two council seats when former Labour turned Independents Cllr Paddy Short and Cllr Caroline Montague switched allegiance again in September - have five candidates including former Tory group deputy leader Michael Miller in St Oswald's ward.

For Mr Parkinson the first hurdle is getting re-elected with Labour's Steve Button strongly backed by his party machine.

To make his life harder despite the Tory no show former Reform UK candidate and organiser Wayne Fitzharris is has thrown his hat in the ring as the 'only true independent'.

Other Independent candidates are Dave Navin in Huncoat, Paul Knighton in Overton and Navid Afzal along with veteran of several parties Malcolm Pritchard in Milnshaw.

Liberal Democrat husband and wife team Adam and Beth Waller-Slack are fighting Rishton and St Oswald's respectively.

Reform UK has put forward Richard Oakley in Clayton-le-Moors.

Conservative group leader Cllr Marlene Haworth has made clear that even if Mr Parkinson survives as a councillor he will not continue as borough leader.

She said: "We are optimistic about the elections.

"We want to restore pride in the borough as a place to live.

"The council is being run by the Conservatives not by Miles Parkinson although he has done some amazing things for the borough. We have frozen the council tax as we said we could and and want to oversee the spending of the Levelling Up money from the government in Hyndburn."

Labour group leader Cllr Munsif Dad said: "Hyndburn Labour believes it’s time for change, for fresh ideas and our team are committed to a council that gives residents more of a say on our future.

"Our manifesto to 'Build a Better Hyndburn' represents a long term vision to tackle the big issues that affect our area. To begin working with businesses to boost our economy and help them create jobs, to invest and protect our green spaces, build a better environment, press for solutions to major transport issues, and pressing for more community policing."

Cllr Parkinson, who hopes that his 28 years representing Altham and the council's success in winning millions of pounds from the government's 'levelling up' funds will see him keep his ward, said: "It is a decision for the voters of Altham. We are working hard and the weather is nice.

"If I win I would hope to work with whoever is in control. I would like to be part of the political process."

But there is no chance he will still lead the council - that will be either Cllr Haworth or Cllr Dad.

Unless of course someone else emerges from the political shadows to take over.

After all it is Hyndburn and anything is possible.