The Labour Party is to put up candidates in every seat on Brentwood Borough Council to be contested on May 4.
It will also stand in the four wards on Epping Forest District Council that fall within the Brentwood and Ongar constituency and is also putting up two candidates for Ongar Town Council
The party has selected candidates for the 12 Brentwood wards where elections were due to be held – and for an unscheduled vacancy in South Weald following the sudden resignation of a sitting Conservative councillor.
Two of Brentwood’s candidates are aged under 20.
Richard Millwood, chair of Brentwood and Ongar Constituency Labour Party, said:
“It is important to us that every Labour member and supporter in every ward has the opportunity to cast their vote for the party of their choice and to help secure the changes that are so vitally needed after the years of stagnation under the Conservatives.
“As the squeeze on living standards continues to cause real hardship for many residents and the Conservative administration shows no signs of providing proper leadership, the Labour Party, which was runner-up in the past two General Elections, is the only political force with developed alternative policies for the people of Brentwood and Ongar.”
This May’s election will be the first for which voter identification will be required.
“If you do not have a driving licence, passport or senior bus pass with your photograph, or the new Voter Authority Certificate, you will be unable to vote,”
Mr Millwood said.
“Eighteen-year-olds voting for the first time in these elections need to be aware of this new requirement.”
Applications for the Voter Authority Certificate must be received by Brentwood Borough Council by April 27 – six working days before the election.
“We would urge voters not to leave their application until the last minute, or to apply for a postal vote,”
Mr Millwood said.
Notes to Editors:
- The 12 Brentwood wards where elections were scheduled are: Brentwood North; Brentwood South; Brentwood West; Brizes and Doddinghurst; Herongate, Ingrave and West Horndon; Hutton East; Hutton North; Ingatestone, Fryerning and Mountnessing; Pilgrims Hatch; Shenfield; Tipps Cross; and Warley.
- The four Epping Forest District Council wards are: Chipping Ongar, Greensted and Marden Ash; Lambourne; North Weald Bassett; and Shelley.
- A list of candidates is attached.
- Postal vote applications must be received 11 days before the election.