Political parties across Wirral have put forward their proposals to win control of the borough council for the next four years.
Campaigning is under way as Wirral faces its biggest local elections ever. All 66 council seats are up for grabs with voters electing three councillors in their area.
No party in the council currently has a majority with Labour only having 26 council seats. The Conservatives have 22, the Green Party have nine and Liberal Democrats have six. Two are independent and one seat is currently vacant.
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Labour are hoping to win a majority on the council for the first time since 2019 and to do this they are targeting Conservative seats like Greasby and Pensby and winning back one in Bromborough.
Meanwhile Wirral’s Green Party is going after Labour-held seats like Seacombe and Bromborough while the Liberal Democrats are targeting Conservative safe seats like Heswall.
Those elected will be involved in big decisions such as Hoylake Beach's future, how the borough is run in the future, and implementing the draft local plan, a major housing and development policy.
Today is the last day people can register to vote. Voters will also need to produce an ID at polling stations for the first time ever and information on what you can use or get a free one can be found here.
This is why Labour, the Conservatives, Greens and Liberal Democrats want you to vote for them.
Labour
Labour has pledged to tackle antisocial behaviour and crime, keep streets clean and tidy, protect green spaces such as parks and the countryside, create new jobs and apprenticeships in Wirral, and ensure families have access to support to “make Wirral the best place to grow up and the best place to grow old.”
Labour leader Janette Williamson said: “Labour's priority is the people of Wirral, and providing a safe, well-maintained and inclusive borough. The Conservative government talks about levelling up, while delivering further austerity and cuts. Labour puts promises into action.
“Our commitment to the environment is key, and our local plan protects Wirral’s green spaces, putting new housing only on brownfield sites. The regeneration of areas including Birkenhead, Wallasey, Seacombe and New Brighton is exciting.
“Labour councillors are community councillors who roll their sleeves up and get involved. We ensure that residents’ voices are heard. This year we have saved youth services and play schemes including The Addy, Gautby Road Playscheme, The Hive, The Beechwood Playscheme and Pilgrim Street, giving young people somewhere to go.
“We avoided moving Birkenhead Central Library and Wallasey Central Library and the closure of nine libraries - Beechwood, Eastham, Greasby, Leasowe, Moreton, Rock Ferry, St James, Seacombe and Upton.
“We also stopped the closure of a leisure centre and two swimming pools and retained maintenance of parks, countryside, street cleansing and alleyway clearance. We saved the community patrol team and CCTV control room, helping reduce nuisance crime.
“The Wirral Conservatives voted against all of this. Please use all of your votes for Labour.”
Conservatives
The Conservatives have pledged to provide “construction opposition to a Labour-led council,” push for further investment across Wirral to ensure “no area is left behind, make sure the Local Plan is adopted to avoid Green Belt development, and push for further police action to tackle antisocial behaviour.
Conservative leader Tom Anderson said: “The elections for local councillors will be the last in Wirral until 2027. So it matters who is elected and that they do better than the last 10 years.
“Here in Wirral, with a Labour-led Council, four Labour MPs, a Labour Metro Mayor and a Labour Police Commissioner it is important that there is constructive opposition.
“If our borough follows Liverpool and becomes a ‘one party state’ then we will end up with the same problems faced by that city.
“That’s one of the reasons why more and more people vote differently at different elections – choosing the candidates and parties they feel are best to represent them. This helps to provide the checks and balances that ensure any proposals and plans are questioned and challenged.
“We’ve seen in recent years how more Labour councillors can’t or won’t do that. Too often they are told what to do and ‘whipped’ into supporting proposals that do not have wider support in the community. More Labour councillors after 4th May are not the answer.
“Wirral’s Conservatives are the only party fielding a full team of candidates in all 22 areas of Wirral. We know every vote has to be earned, not just with promises at election time but with the work day in, day out to help and support communities with local issues and action.”
Greens
The Greens have pledged to “promote social, economic, and environmental justice,” make sure all decisions made “prioritise consideration of the climate emergency,” oppose “Government-imposed cuts to services,” introduce low traffic neighbourhoods and make all council services carbon neutral by 2030.
Green leader Pat Cleary said: “Following last year’s record gains for the Greens in Wirral we are approaching these elections in buoyant mood. Wirral residents have seen that electing Green councillors means a hard-working year-round presence in their area. They also see us standing up for a fairer, greener borough.
“Our key promise to voters is to continue working hard by engaging with residents and following up on the things that matter to them. Official data from Wirral Council clearly backs this up. In 2022 the typical Green councillor reported 273 issues on behalf of residents. This was way ahead of the Lib Dems (84) and Labour/Conservative (both 37).
“By electing Green councillors, residents know their area will get the attention it deserves.
“Greens have led the way in promoting social justice and protecting services. When Labour and Tory councillors voted to close libraries and leisure centres, Green councillors voted to save them.”
Liberal Democrats
The Liberal Democrats have pledged to improve services for the elderly, defend the green belt, help cut people’s energy bills through home insulation programmes, modernise the council’s leisure facilities, improve children’s services, and put extra money towards repairing potholes.
Liberal Democrat leader Phil Gilchrist said: “Wirral Liberal Democrats believe that empowering individuals builds stronger communities.
“Our aim is to make Wirral Council efficient, responsive and compassionate, creating an environment that enables vibrant communities to flourish. Liberal Democrat councillors have to scrutinise the work of the Council to ensure we get the best value for every pound available. The government does not give Wirral the money needed to provide all the high-quality services we would wish to have.
“We want a stable and fairer funding system for Wirral that enables longer-term planning rather than relying on unpredictable annual announcements from government about the money available.”
“Liberal Democrats want an end to the wasteful system of competitive bidding for pots of government funding.
“Underlying everything we do will be careful consideration of the environmental impact of all decisions to reduce the Council’s carbon footprint and make our local contribution to creating a cleaner, greener and more sustainable planet.”
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