Here are the candidates in the Hucknall and Newstead seats for next week's local elections
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In what have been unprecedented times, dominated by the Covid-19 pandemic, voters will be giving their judgement on how they feel councillors, both as collective council and individually within the wards they represent, have handled the crisis and how they have helped and supported people affected.
Healthcare and the economy will be two of the biggest talking points in this election as voters will want to know how the council, working with government, is going to help many businesses and individuals who have lost work as a result of the pandemic, get back on their feet.
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Hide AdCare for the elderly and social care of the most vulnerable in society – two groups that have been in sharp focus throughout the pandemic – will also be another big factor in deciding many people’s vote.
As well as healthcare and the economy, issues such as council tax, crime, social care, education, employment, public transport and the environment will also be important.
Potholes and the state of the county’s roads is another hot topic for this election, along with concerns on local housing.
Although the focus is on county rather than country, local elections are still important barometers nationally, particularly for the opposition parties, as the results will also give an indication of how popular the parties are
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Hide AdFor new Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and new Liberal Democrats leader Sir Ed Davey, this is a first test of how well they are – or aren’t – doing in their bid to win back voters from the Conservatives.
The Conservatives were awarded a large majority nationally at the last general election but will disenchantment with the the government in some parts in the wake of its handling of the Covid crisis now be reflected in a change of mood at the local ballot box next week?
Here are the 15 candidates standing for the seats in the Dispatch area this time.
Hucknall North
Pat Ayres – Labour
Martin Howes – Liberal Democrats
Kevin Rostance – Conservatives
John Willmott – Ashfield Independents
Hucknall South
Ria Cash – Labour
James Harvey – Liberal Democrats
Jan Lees – Conservatives
Lee Waters – Ashfield Independents
Hucknall West
Phil Rostance – Conservatives
David Shaw – Ashfield Independents
Stephen Taylor – Labour
Newstead
Chris Barnfather – Conservatives
Matthew Spurr – Labour
John Sutherland – Liberal Democrats
Margret Vince – Green
How we all voted last time
The Conservatives emerged as the largest party after the last elections in 2017, taking 31 seats to Labour’s 23 with the Ashfield Independents in third with five.
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Hide AdIn the Dispatch area, it was the Conservatives who won all four seats available.
But will that be the case again this time?
Here is how you voted in Hucknall and Newstead in 2017.
Hucknall North
Ben Bradley (Conservatives) 1,539
Alice Grice (Labour) 1,141
John Willmott (Hucknall First Community Forum) 282
Ray Young (UKIP) 161
James Harvey (Liberal Democrats) 89.
Conservative majority: 398
Hucknall South
Phil Rostance (Conservatives), 1,136
John Wilkinson (Labour) 1,062
Jack Holland (UKIP) 313
Trevor Locke (Hucknall First Community Forum) 196
Alex Sjoberg-Weekes (Liberal Democrats) 97.
Conservative majority: 64
Hucknall West
Kevin Rostance (Conservatives) 1,535
Joe Wakinson (Labour) 988
Stuart Bestwick (UKIP) 239
Geoff Ware (Hucknall First Community Forum) 160
Robert Charlesworth (Liberal Democrats) 54
Conservative majority: 547
Newstead
Chris Barnfather (Conservatives) 2,326
Michael Smith (Labour) 648
Rhea Waters (UKIP) 179
David Watts (Liberal Democrats) 123
Rebecca Connick (Green) 115
Conservative majority: 1,678