THE stakes appear to be high for Winchester’s councillors as the districts goes to the polls today.

Members of the public from across the patch will head to polling stations to pick their preferred city councillor, with just three wards needed to move control over to the Liberal Democrats.

Currently, the Conservative group, led by Wonston and Micheldever councillor Caroline Horrill, holds a majority of four councillors, but if just three wards swing in the favour of the Lib Dems, it could see them losing control of the local authority.

The election falls at a bad time nationally for the Tories, who are currently embroiled in an immigration row following the ‘Windrush’ scandal reports in the national media. Home Secretary Amber Rudd was forced to resign this week in the fall out.

But Labour, which is fielding candidates in all 15 wards, has also faced some unwelcome publicity with national reports of an alleged anti-semitism problem within the party.

The anti-semitism row came to Winchester last month when Winchester University launched an investigation into lecturer Jane Dipple over comments and articles posted on her social media pages.

The Lib Dems haven’t much in the national press recently, although their pro-EU Brexit stance continues to divide voters.

But ultimately the vote could come down to local issues, with major projects in the city currently including Silver Hill 2 and Station Approach, both of which went back to the drawing board after the schemes collapsed under the Conservative council; Winchester Sports and Leisure Park; and the diversion of the Andover Road, which, controversially, the Conservatives have said can still be halted.

Today’s election will see three councillors stepping down: Independent James Brynes (Wonston and Micheldever),Conservative Ernest Jeffs (Alresford and Itchen Valley) and Lib Dem Nicki Elks (St Bartholomew).

Cllr Byrnes’ seat will now be contested by Conservative candidate Patrick Cunningham, chairman of Littleton and Harestock Parish Council; Liberal Democrat Ian Gordon, chairman of the Kings Worthy Parish Council’s planning and highways committee; and Labour candidate Andrew Adams, a Micheldever parish councillor.

In the Alresford and Itchen Valley ward, Cllr Jeffs’ seat will be contested by Alresford Town Council chairman Margot Power running for the Lib Dems, alongside Conservative and town councillor Irene Spencer and Labour’s Lee Hayes.

Cllr Elks’ seat will see Lib Dem Kathleen Becker taking on Reginald Humm (Conservative), Philip Ainsworth (Labour), David Walker-Nix (Green Party), and Frances Baxter (UKIP).

In total the ruling Conservatives – who currently have a majority of four – and Labour will be standing in all 15 wards involved in the election, Lib Dems will be standing in all except for Bishop’s Waltham, the Green Party will be fielding seven candidates, and Ukip will field one.

CANDIDATES STANDING

(INCUMBENT MARKED*)

Alresford and Itchen Valley

  • Lee Hayes (Lab)

  • Margot Power (Lib)

  • Irene Spencer (Con)

Badger Farm and Oliver’s Battery

  • Neil Dolby (Lab)

  • John Godbold (Con)

  • Brian Laming (Lib)*

  • Max Priesemann (Gre)

Bishop’s Waltham

  • Steve Haines (Lab)

  • Steve Miller (Con)*

Central Meon Valley

  • Sheila Campbell (Lib)

  • Stan Evans (Lab)

  • Linda Gemmell (Con)*

Colden Common and Twyford

  • Paul Brown (Lab)

  • Sue Cook (Con)*

  • Hannah Williams (Lib)

Denmead

  • Caroline Brook (Con)*

  • Judith Godwin (Lib)

  • Alexander Graft (Lab)

  • Ben Haysom-Newport (Gre)

Southwick and Wickham

  • Neil Cutler (Lib)*

  • David Newberry (Con)

  • Paul Sony (Lab)

St. Barnabas

  • Adrian Field (Lab)

  • Robert Parker (Gre)

  • Paul Twelftree (Con)

  • Anne Weir (Lib)*

St. Bartholomew

  • Philip Ainsworth (Lab)

  • Frances Baxter (UKIP)

  • Kathleen Becker (Lib)

  • Paul Humm (Con)

  • David Walker-Nix (Gre)

St. Michael

  • Charles Elderton (Lab)

  • Jonathan Lawrence (Gre)

  • Lynda Murphy (Lib)

  • Ian Tait (Con)*

St. Paul

  • Chris Hunt (Con)

  • Catherine Hutchinson (Lab)

  • Lucille Thompson (Lib)*

  • Andrew Wainwright (Gre)

The Worthys

  • Tracey Anderson (Con)

  • Malcolm Prince (Lib)*

  • Kimberly Torkington (Lab)

Upper Meon Valley

  • Simon Cook (Lib)

  • June Kershaw (Lab)

  • Laurence Ruffell (Con)*

Whiteley & Shedfield

  • Roger Bentote (Lib)*

  • Jess Bond (Con)

  • Laurie Clough (Lab)

  • Anne Coleman (Gre)

Wonston and Micheldever

  • Andrew Adams (Lab)

  • Patrick Cunningham (Con)

  • Ian Gordon (Lib)