Voters go to the polls in the Stretford and Urmston by-election on Thursday (December 15) forced by the stepping down of sitting Labour MP Kate Green. First elected in 2010, Ms Green is to replace Baroness Beverley Hughes as Greater Manchester's deputy mayor for policing, crime, criminal justice and fire under metro mayor Andy Burnham.
In the 2019 General Election when Boris Johnson won convincingly, Ms Green held the seat with more than twice the votes than her nearest rival, a Conservative. With Labour holding 40 council seats in the borough of Trafford to the Conservatives' 13, the Liberal Democrats' five and the Green Party's four, and with Sir Keir Starmer's party riding high in the national polls anything other than a Labour win would be a major shock.
The Labour candidate is the 37-year-old current leader of Trafford council Andrew Western who has twice unsuccessfully stood in the neighbouring constituency of Altrincham and Sale West, - in 2017 and 2019 - although he has reduced the Tory majority on both occasions. He says his key priorities include supporting children and young people - providing more affordable and social housing - and delivering sustainable economic regeneration throughout Trafford.
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For the Conservatives, it is Emily Carter-Kandola, 29, who studied in Salford and lives in Manchester. She says she stands for protecting local green belt, ensuring residents are helped through the cost of living crisis and championing local business.
Meanwhile, Anna Fryer, a senior mental health doctor at Trafford General Hospital is standing for the Lib Dems. She joined the party in 2016 after being inspired by the then Lib Dem MP Norman Lamb's campaign for equality of care between mental and physical health and for a better care system.
The Green Party candidate is Dan Jerrome, the current leader of the group on Trafford council, campaigning for safer roads, repairing potholes anti-litter, a better town centre and support for low-energy homes.
There are five other candidates standing. They are: Hazel Gibb - Independent; Christina Glancy - Freedom Alliance; Jim Newell - Rejoin EU; Paul Swansborough - Reform UK and Julien Yvon - Social Democratic Party.
Voting takes place between 7am and 10am and the count will take place at the home of Manchester United, Old Trafford, as soon as the polls close.
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