Local council elections are taking place across Greater Manchester (and elsewhere) on 4 May – including in Salford.
Here’s your guide to what you need to know.
What election is taking place in Salford?
It’s a local council election, and 89 candidates will be standing in Salford across 20 different wards. Twenty-one seats are being contested overall: one per ward, except for in Pendlebury and Clifton ward, where there are two.
Who can vote in the elections?
The deadline to register to vote has now passed – it was 17 of April.
To be eligible to register to vote in Salford, you must:
- Be 18 years old or over
- Live in the city of Salford
- Be a British, Commonwealth, Irish or European Union citizen
Who is standing for election in Salford?
Among the Labour candidates standing for re-election are David Anthony Lancaster in Barton and Winton, Jim King in Broughton, Hannah Robinson-Smith in Cadishead and Lower Irlam, Michael Pevitt in Claremont, and Mike McMusker in Eccles.
For the Conservatives, Robin Garrido is standing for re-election in Worsely and Westwood Park, and Ari Leitner in Kersal and Broughton Park.
A full list of candidates for each ward can be found here.
What does the current council look like in Salford?
Labour is in charge of the council at present, and they are likely to win re-election. Labour currently holds 49 seats on the council, meaning they need just one win to retain their overall control of the council. The Conservatives have eight seats, the Liberal Democrats have two seats, and an independent has one.
What are the issues being debated in Salford?
The Salford Liberal Democrats have discussed cleaning up Salford Quays, taking plastic out of the Ship Canal and green spaces. The Salford Liberal Democrats are campaigning for the Council to plant more trees and increase green spaces when developing in Salford Quays, not reduce them. They are also fighting for night trams and a better service.
Salford Labour is supporting those on strike, including the National Education Union. They are also campaigning for green spaces to plant trees in Salford. Salford’s Labour Council has also backed the Right to Food campaign, which aims to make good, nutritious food a legal right for all its citizens. Salford Labour has also campaigned to end the cladding scandal – that is, hundreds of thousands of leaseholders and tenants are stuck in unsafe, unsellable buildings.
Ari Leitner of Salford Conservatives has called for Salford Council to deliver basic services e.g. gritting roads, instead of ‘hoarding taxpayer’s money’.
When and where can I vote?
The polls open on May 4 at 7am and close at 10pm.
A list of polling stations can be found here.
New election rules in place mean that voters will need to bring a form of ID in order to cast their ballot.
When will the results be announced?
The verification and count will begin at 10am on Thursday 4 May. The estimated time for the first ward declaration is 2am and for the full council declaration is approximately 4am on 5 May.
Our coverage
Mancunian Matters will be covering the local elections across Greater Manchester.
We will be speaking to voters, campaigners, and councillors reporting on the key issues.
Follow our social media sites for more information leading up to the polling day and beyond.
Photo by Jason Jeandron on Unsplash
