91 candidates battling for 18 seats
THIS year’s Coventry City Council elections will see 91 candidates battle it out for seats in 18 different wards on May 5.
There will be one vacant seat available in each ward, with five of the 18 available up for grabs currently occupied by Conservative Councillors and Labour holding the other 13 places.
The Green Party will be putting up 17 candidates this year, with the Coventry Citizens Party entering 16.
The Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition have put 11 candidates forward for election, and the Lib Dems will have members run in nine wards.
The Alliance for Democracy and Freedom will be running their sole candidate in Binley and Willenhall, while Zia Ahmed Khan will be the only Independent candidate running in Foleshill, a seat that only has three people running.
Voting will take place between 7am and 10pm on Thursday May 5, with votes being counted at the Building Society Arena.
Among the areas where polls will be held are Bablake, Binley and Willenhall, Cheylesmore, Earlsdon, Foleshill, Henley, Holbrook, Longford, Lower Stoke, Radford, Sherbourne, St Michael’s, Upper Stoke, Wainbody, Westwood, Whoberley, Woodlands and Wyken.
The count – for a third of the city’s seats – will then take place overnight between the Thursday and Friday.
In the last poll – held in May last year – the Labour Party won 13 of the 19 seats contested, with the Conservatives taking six.
Going into the 2022 election, 39 of Coventry City Council’s seats are held by Labour with the Conservatives holding the remaining 15.
Labour
COVENTRY’S Labour Party members say they are optimistic the election results will be good in the city and has made five pledges to the electorate.
Labour intends to bring at least 5,000 jobs to Coventry over the next five years by bringing investment into the city.
It also promised to reduce road traffic accidents by increasing the number of average speed cameras.
With regard to housing, Coventry’s Labour candidates have vowed more homes for families by buying properties and bringing them back into family use. As part of that pledge, it also intends to limit the number of houses in multiple occupation (HMOs).
The Coventry Labour Party also wants to balance the budget – avoiding cuts to frontline services – and increase green public transport by ensuring all Coventry buses are carbon zero by 2025.
Leader Coun George Duggins, said the Labour Council was looking to take the city forward through its One Coventry approach by working in partnership whether it be in the regeneration and events arena or improving services.
He said as the city ‘emerged sensibly from the pandemic’ the authority’s approach was appreciated by residents.
“It is allied to the fact the Labour Party is now a Government in waiting nationally – especially as constituents face up to the consequences of the cost of living crisis which
is causing major worry,” he added.
Visit coventrylabourparty.org for more information.
Conservatives
THE COVENTRY Conservatives leader feels the political picture nationally could influence people’s voting decisions.
But Coun Gary Ridley added he was a strong believer in local elections being ‘stand alone’ and reflecting how parties were performing in their areas.
“I think those who have voted for us will stick with us and we are well-placed to make local gains but it depends on people’s approach,” he said.
The party has unveiled a 13-page manifesto, making pledges on a number of issues affecting the city.
On wellbeing, the Conservatives want to tackle health inequality and improve access to sports facilities, as well as easier access to key healthcare services.
They have vowed to produce a balanced budget with lower council tax and less waste, reducing the amount of money paid out in councillors’ allowances.
To help regenerate the city, the party has promised free late-night parking and rents based on business’ turnover, unveiled plans for a Challenge Fund to support the high street and to make the city the best place for IT companies.
The Conservatives have vowed to bring more empty homes back into use, protect Coundon Wedge forever and prevent homes being converted into student accommodation and HMOs.
A dedicated Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Sustainability would be introduced to help combat environmental issues, along with a plastic bottle recycling scheme.
With regard to roads, the party plans to invest in better surfaces and repair pot holes, roll out average speed cameras and introduce more 20mph zones to make areas safer.
On education, the Conservatives will review the school admissions system with a view to give parents greater choice of schools and examine school bus charges.
On communities, the party would introduce a city-wide injunction on illegal traveller camps, encourage and support community groups to take ownership of land or buildings and reinstate ward forums where residents want them.
Visit coventryconservatives.com for more and to see the manifesto.
Liberal Democrats
THE LIBERAL Dem-ocrats have been campaigning on three main issues in Coventry – improving recycling and accelerating green schemes, ending fines for the homeless and investment in the local area.
They said the fight the city council had been embroiled in over bin collections had distracted and exacerbated the fact Coventry had fallen behind other UK cities on recycling.
The Lib Dems want to see that changed with greater investment in Coventry’s recycling infrastructure. The party would also focus on ending the use of single use plastic on council property and the protect treasured local green spaces.
The Lib Dems claim the city council continues to threaten Coventry’s homeless with fines of up to £100. They labelled it a ‘cruel and counter-productive policy’ and said it must end and be replaced with a ‘sensible and humane homelessness policy’.
The party also wants to build on its several successful campaigns in recent years in demanding investment in the city centre, for example in the resurfacing of Allesley Old Road. The Lib Dems believes this policy can go further and would champion projects to get more help for small, local businesses struggling after the pandemic.
They would also campaign for increased investment in fighting crime and improved transport.
“I believe we need to build a fairer, greener, stronger Coventry,” said the party’s Earlsdon candidate Stephen Richmond.
“Part of building a greener Coventry is increasing our disgracefully low household waste recycling rates. I will be your voice for real and fast action to tackle the climate emergency.”
Liberal Democrat candidate for Sherbourne Nukey Proctor added she would focus on investment to support small businesses, repairing roads and raising awareness about local car crime.
Visit covlibdems.org.uk for more on the party and its plans.
Coventry Citizens’ Party
THE COVENTRY Citizens Party will be standing 16 candidates across Coventry and a new candidate in Exhall.
The party opted not to stand in Foleshill to give the independent candidate a better chance of defeating the Labour group.
And the candidate who was due to stand in Westwood had to withdraw because of other commitments.
Cameron Baxter, the leader of Coventry Citizens Party, said: “We are still the only party in Coventry committed to building more social housing whilst also protecting the green belt.
“We are also committed to opening three new rail stations in Coventry and a new Express Interchange for buses and coaches in Exhall.”
The group has been campaigning for more action on fly-tipping, a new pedestrian crossing in Wyken, more lighting on public footpaths between Binley and Willenhall, and changes to parking permits in Earlsdon.
Mr Baxter said its drive for a new knife surrender bin on Far Gosford Street was successful.
He added last year, council tax increased by 4.9 per cent with councillors receiving a 2.7 per cent pay rise.
“This year, councillors have increased council tax by 2.9 per cent while food and energy bills are soaring,” he said. “We believe the council needs to do more to rebalance the local economy to create more higher paid office jobs whilst also providing genuine affordable housing which will be owned by the council.”
Long-term the party wants to see the number of councillors reduced from 54 to 36 with elections every four years and a new proportional representation system to help reduce costs.
It would also restructure the cabinet, and scrap deputy cabinet positions.
Click here for more on the Coventry Citizens’ Party.
Green Party
COVENTRY’S Green Party have said they will be standing for ‘fairer, greener communities’ in the city.
They have fielded candidates in every ward with the exception of Foleshill.
The Greens received more than 8.5 per cent of the total votes cast in the last full local election in 2021, racking up 6,911 votes in total.
Stephen Gray, who ran in Holbrook, accounted for 1,419 of those votes as he finished in second place, just 326 short of the winner.
Many more of the Green candidates finished in third place last year.
“All year round residents have been telling us how we are at the forefront of tackling the climate crisis,” said a spokesperson. “Now, more than ever, we need decision-makers to be making positive change happen quickly.
“We focus on the immediate issues surrounding the area.”
Among their top priorities is the ‘Green New Deal’, which aims to provide new green homes, transport and jobs to help reduce UK Carbon emissions to net zero by 2030.
When it comes to housing, the party is proposing better insulation and prioritising building on brownfield sites as opposed to green field to restrict the loss of green space.
Candidates are also pledging to identity appropriate sites for planting trees as well as ensuring that parks benefit both people and wildlife.
Visit coventry.green party.org.uk for more.
Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition
THE Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) say they back Coventry City Council’s HGV drivers’ strike for better pay ahead of the elections on May 5.
The party will have candidates standing in 11 wards across Coventry.
They added that the council should end the strike now, saying that then they can ‘improve jobs, wages and local services instead of attacking them’.
Dave Nellist, who is standing for TUSC in St Michaels, added: “Socialists believe wages should be rising to protect working people from inflation.
“We will stand by workers in struggle and fight to restore government funding stolen from Coventry.”
Another of their top priorities involves assisting Coventry residents who are struggling with rising gas and electric bills, food and transport prices and National Insurance and council tax increases.
Mr Nellist accused the Conservatives of protecting the rich from the effects of the cost-of-living crisis, before adding that they felt Labour was not standing up for working-class people nationally or locally.
He added: “The council has gone along with government cuts that have closed youth and community centres, libraries and public toilets, reduced our bin and street services, put up charges for school transport for the disabled and cremations.”
The Candidates – Who is standing where?
Bablake
Jaswant Singh Birdi (Conservative and Unionist Party)
Tony Middleton (Coventry Citizens Party)
Caroline Spence (Lib Dem)
George Robert Walker (Labour)
Niall Webb (Green Party)
Binley and Willenhall
Chrissie Brown (Green Party)
Paul Nichalos Cowley (Coventry Citizens Party)
Marianne Angela Fitzgerald (Alliance for Democracy and Freedom)
Amarjit Singh Khangura (Conservative and Unionist Party)
John Roderick Mutton (Labour)
Cheylesmore
Roger Maurice James Bailey (Conservative and Unionist Party)
Anna Caroline Grainger (Liberal Democrat)
Judy Griffiths (Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition)
Sian Katie Jones (Coventry Citizens Party)
Ami Kaur (Labour)
John Verdult (Green Party)
Earlsdon
Cameron Ewart Baxter (Coventry Citizens Party)
John David Campbell Finlayson (Green Party)
Adam Joachim Harmsworth (Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition)
Zaid Rehman (Conservative and Unionist Party)
Stephen John Richmond (Lib Dem)
Kindy Sandhu (Labour and Co-operative Party)
Foleshill
Tariq Khan (Labour)
Zia Ahmed Khan (Independent)
Raja Reddy Meesala (Conservative and Unionist Party)
Henley
Kevin Barry Maton (Labour)
Aidan Spencer O’Toole (Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition)
Kenneth John Taylor (Conservative and Unionist Party)
Cathy Wattebot (Green Party)
Charlie Wilson (Coventry Citizens Party)
Holbrook
Raj Dhaliwal (Labour)
Alan Benjamin Gavin (Coventry Citizens Party)
Stephen Robert George Gray (Green Party)
Jim Hensman (Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition)
Zeeshan Qazi (Conservative and Unionist Party)
Longford
Karl Aldred (Green Party)
Jaspal Singh Bahara (Lib Dem)
Diane Sylvia Crookes (Conservative and Unionist Party)
Lindsley Harvard (Labour Party)
Nicola Jayne Spalding (Coventry Citizens Party)
Lower Stoke
Michael Arthur Ballinger (Conservative and Unionist Party)
John Patrick O’Sullivan (Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition)
Esther Mary Reeves (Green Party)
Rupinder Singh (Labour and Co-operative Party)
Danielle Stringfellow (Coventry Citizens Party)
Radford
Dave Anderson (Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition)
Irena Bosworth (Coventry Citizens Party)
Patricia Maria Hetherton (Labour Party)
Laura Frances Ridley (Conservative and Unionist Party)
Julie Ann Spriddle (Green Party)
Sherbourne
Marcus Luke Paris Fogden (Coventry Citizens Party)
Jackie Gardiner (Conservative and Unionist Party)
Jane Elizabeth Nellist (Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition)
Nukey Proctor (Lib Dem)
George Teggin (Green Party)
Seamus Walsh (Labour)
St Michael’s
Dave Nellist (Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition)
David Neil Priestley (Green Party)
Mary Taylor (Conservative and Unionist Party)
David Stuart Welsh (Labour)
Karen Wilson (Coventry Citizens Party)
Upper Stoke
Gary Ronald Cooper (Coventry Citizens Party)
Gurdev Singh Hayre (Labour)
Terri Hersey (Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition)
Gurdeep Singh Sohal (Conservative and Unionist Party)
Laura Katherine Vesty (Green Party)
Wainbody
Des Arthur (Labour)
Becky Finlayson (Green Party)
Adam Jack Hancock (Coventry Citizens Party)
Mattie Heaven (Conservative and Unionist Party)
James Frederick Morshead (Lib Dem)
Westwood
Jim Donnelly (Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition)
Abdul Jobbar (Labour)
Jessica Mary Marshall (Green Party)
Manjeet Rai (Conservative and Unionist Party)
Jamie Simpson (Lib Dem)
Whoberley
Russell David Field (Lib Dem)
Nate Lewis (Coventry Citizens Party)
Anne Patterson (Green Party)
Bally Singh (Labour and Co-operative Party)
Stephen James Smith (Conservative and Unionist Party)
Woodlands
Sarah Stephanie Davis (Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition)
Lynette Catherine Kelly (Labour and Co-operative Party)
Julia Elizabeth Lepoidevin (Conservative and Unionist Party)
Mark James Perryman (Lib Dem)
Lesley Clare Sim (Green Party)
Thomas Craig Watts (Coventry Citizens Party)
Wyken
Faye Abbott (Labour)
Russell Berry (Green Party)
Myooran Sri (Conservative and Unionist Party)
Lorna Kareen Williams (Coventry Citizens Party)
