Local Election Countdown - Who's standing where you live?

POLLING DAY: Local elections will take place in Solihull next month.

WITH less than four weeks to go until polling day, the candidates have been confirmed for next month’s local elections.

A ferocious battle between Labour and the Green Party is likely to be the centre of the campaign in North Solihull.

The Greens, who won their first seat in Smith’s Wood six years ago and now have seven councillors, are pushing to become the second largest party on Solihull Council.

Further gains on May 22 could edge them ahead of the Lib Dems, who became the official opposition a decade ago.

It would be a major success for the Greens, who continue to capitalise on the anger surrounding high-speed rail and the North Solihull Regeneration.

MOMENTUM: The Green Party will want to build on their
successes in 2012, when Chris Williams (pictured)
was elected in Chelmsley Wood

Their recent run of victories has come at the expense of the Labour Party, who are looking to reverse their fortunes following the shock defeat of several long-standing councillors.

This year, the party will be fighting to protect its last remaining seats in the one-time strongholds of Chelmsley Wood and Smith’s Wood (where Don Cornock is standing down after more than 30 years' service). 

Kingshurst & Fordbridge is now the only ward in Solihull where Labour has a clean-sweep of councillors, with the Greens having failed to make in-roads.

This year, however, Labour leader David Jamieson will have to stave off a challenge from former Conservative councillor Debbie Evans.

CONTEST: Labour councillor David Jamieson will do battle
with UKIP's candidate Debbie Evans in Kingshurst

Ms Evans, who was ousted in 2012, has since left the Tories and will be hoping to retake her old seat, this time as a UKIP candidate.
The eurosceptic outfit has made little impact on previous Solihull elections, but campaigners hope that the party’s surge in the opinion polls nationally may pave the way for a breakthrough.

UKIP has not fielded a full slate of candidates – which it said it would 12 months ago -  but will nonetheless contest nine out of 17 wards.

The rising support for UKIP may also ask questions of the Conservatives, who are the largest party on the council and have enjoyed an overall majority for three years.

Although it’s unlikely the Tories will face any real danger in the ‘safe seat’ of Castle Bromwich – incumbent Mike Robinson has a majority of more than 1600 votes.

The Lib Dems, who do not have any councillors in North Solihull, have chosen to focus their efforts south of the A45. This year, Kingshurst & Fordbridge is the only northern ward where they are putting up a candidate.

•  Elections for Solihull Council and the European Parliament will take place on Thursday, May 22. Residents who are not registered to vote have until next Tuesday (May 6) to do so                   Go to http://www.solihull.gov.uk/About-the-Council/Voting/registertovote

Full list of candidates (incumbent in italics):

Bickenhill -inc Marston Green:

Robert Hall (UKIP)

Mike Longfield (Lab)

Gary Macnaughton (Green)

Alison Rolf (Con) - Alan Martin is standing down

Castle Bromwich:

Glen Lawrence (UKIP)

Ian McDonald (Lab)

Mike Robinson (Con)

Mina Tilt (Green)

Mandy Wilson (Ind)

Chelmsley Wood:

Colin Archer-Richards (UKIP)

Sally Bell (Con)

James Burn (Green)

Nick Stephens (Lab)

Kingshurst & Fordbridge:

Debbie Evans (UKIP)

David Jamieson (Lab)

Luke Richards (Lib Dem)

Paul Thomas (Con)

Mark Wilson (Green)

Smith’s Wood:

David Cole (Lab) - Don Cornock is standing down

Stephen Holt (Green)

Graham Juniper (Con)

Mark Lawrence (UKIP)