Ever wanted to be a Greenwich councillor? Well, now’s your chance – nominations have opened for May’s poll to decide who represents more than a quarter of a million south-east Londoners.
To stand, you need to live, work, or own property in the borough, and be nominated by 10 residents of the ward you wish to stand in. Nominations close at 4pm on Friday 6 April, with the election being held on Thursday 3 May.
Greenwich borough is divided into 17 wards, each electing three councillors. If you’re not on the electoral register, you can’t vote – sign up here.
Labour has run the council since 1971. It currently holds 42 of Greenwich’s 51 seats, with the Tories holding the remaining nine, with most of their seats in the Eltham area.
It would take a political earthquake for Labour to lose control of the council – but in various parts of the borough, individual parties are eyeing up their chances of a shock.
Seats to watch include the three Eltham seats where the Tories are currently represented – Eltham North, Eltham South and Coldharbour & New Eltham – as well as Blackheath Westcombe, the Tories’ only other toehold in the borough and London’s most marginal council seat.
If Labour fail to dislodge any sitting Conservatives, it will be considered a bad night for them, while an increase in the number of Tories will be seen as a disaster.
The Greens are pinning their hopes on unseating Labour in Peninsula, while the Lib Dems’ sole target is Greenwich West. The Women’s Equality Party is eyeing up Charlton.
Disgruntled residents in the east of the borough have thrown off party shackles to challenge Labour – the new Plumstead Party is looking to stand in Glyndon, Shooters Hill and Plumstead, while an independent slate is targeting council leader Denise Hyland in Abbey Wood.
A strong showing in 2017’s general election for Eltham MP Clive Efford means that, for the first time, every seat in the council is potentially winnable for Labour – with an outside chance of the party bagging all 51 seats, leading to a council with no opposition for the first time in its history.
A full election preview will follow when candidates are announced.
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