64 candidates target 20 council seats

Local election 2012

A total of 64 candidates will battle it out for 20 seats up for grabs in next month’s local council elections.

Labour, which has a majority on Rochdale Council, will field a candidate in each of the 20 borough wards, as will the Conservatives.

The Liberal Democrats will contest all seats apart from Littleborough Lakeside.

There are two independent candidates, one English Democrat and one UK Independence Party candidate.

Labour is seeking to bring back two former council leaders, Richard Farnell will contest Balderstone & Kirkholt, Allen Brett seeks to unseat Liberal Democrat former leader of the Council Irene Davidson in Milnrow & Newhey.

Former Liberal Democrat Jean Ashworth, who recently switched to the Conservatives, seeks to retain her Smallbridge & Firgrove seat under her new colours.

Former councillor Liz Thirsk is a surprise candidate for the Liberal Democrats in Milkstone & Deeplish given her comments when she previously stood down as a councillor.

Three of the Conservatives long serving councillors are defending their seats, Ashley Dearnley in Wardle & West Littleborough, Jane Gartside in Bamford and James Gartside in Norden.

www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/elections/election-summary/19/local-election-2012