2 weeks Ago
The 16 candidates vying to become Norfolk county councillors in three by-elections have been revealed. Votes in Norwich's Mancroft division, Marshland North in the west of the county and Thetford West were triggered after three councillors resigned. Four candidates are fighting to win the Thetford West division vacated by Labour's Terry Jermy, who stepped down from County Hall to pursue his role as South West Norfolk MP .
Terry Jermy (Image: UK Parliament) Labour hope Terry Land, Breckland district councillor for Thetford's Boudica ward, will retain the division for his party. He is up against Reform UK's David Bick, Liberal Democrat Ian Minto and Conservative Peter Wilkinson, who represents Nar Valley on Breckland District Council. Julian Kirk (Image: Matthew Usher) In Marshland North, Julian Kirk, who triggered the by-election after he quit the Conservatives, became an independent, joined Reform UK and then resigned , is standing for his new party.
He is vying for the division with Green Rob Archer, Conservative Richard Blunt, deputy leader of the Conservative group at West Norfolk Council, Labour's Matt Hannay, Lib Dem Alan Holmes and 18-year-old independent Michael Squire, who hopes to become the youngest county councillor . In Norwich's Mancroft division, the Greens will hope Serene Shibli can retain the seat previously held by Jamie Osborn . Jamie Osborn (Image: Denise Bradley, Newsquest) She is up against Reform UK's Karl Catchpole, Lib Dem Gordon Dean, Lorna Garner from the Homeland Party, Labour's Josh Horsefall and Conservative Edith Jones.
The by-elections will take place on May 1. Elections for every Norfolk County Council division had been due to take place on the same date, but they were controversially postponed for a year to allow County Hall to work towards devolution and local government reorganisation. The Conservatives currently have 53 seats at County Hall, the Liberal Democrat Alliance has 10, Labour has nine, the Greens have three, the Independent group has two, while there are three non-aligned independents.
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