Battle for control of Wigan Council edges closer

Councillors are preparing to face the biggest test of public opinion since the general election as the local elections loom.

Wigan residents will return to the polls on May 7 for the local elections - the first to be held since the shock general election result last December, which saw the Conservatives take control of Labour heartlands such as Leigh for the first time in history.

Seats in every ward will be up for grabs, and the huge backlash against the Labour Party across the country last Christmas means that opposition candidates will go into this year’s battle for control of the council chambers more confident than ever before.

That new found belief has spread to the likes of Luke Marsden, a former Big Brother star who announced his foray into politics last week.

Luke, who starred in the reality TV show in 2008, announced last week that he will be standing as a Conservative candidate for the Aspull, New Springs and Whelley ward. He will have to unseat Labour representative John Hilton, former chairman of the town hall’s planning committee, if he wishes to be successful.

The 32-year-old (right)from Whelley said: “I’m a proud Wiganer, I’ve had the pleasure of hosting the Christmas Lights Switch On in the past, hosted festivals and charity runs but I feel many have lost that sense of pride in the town and this has to change.

He added: “I am already out and about talking to local residents about the changes they would like to see not only in the ward but in Wigan as a whole.”

Elsewhere, Labour will hope to gain a foothold back in areas which it has lost to opposition councillors in recent contests.

Atherton currently boasts three Independent Network councillors, and Labour will have to secure more votes that Coun Jamie Hodgkinson, who has held the seat since 2012.

Independent councillor Bob Brierley has held his Hindley Green position since 2004 and will be hoping for a fifth successive term in office. And independent councillor for Bryn, Steve Jones, will be vying for a second term, having been elected in 2016. Candidates have been able to collect their nomination papers since yesterday, and can be handed in to the town hall from March 27. Anyone wishing to stand has until 4pm on Wednesday, April 8 to submit all the required paperwork.