COUNCIL BY-ELECTION MAY GIVE CLUE TO WHAT GRIMSBY VOTERS THINK OF BORIS JOHNSON

                                                             

People's Park - nearby residents will be voting on February 17

A CRUNCH by-election in North East Lincolnshire could provide a pointer to how Grimsby voters feel about Boris Johnson and the Conservative government.

Voters will be going to the polls in Grimsby's Park ward on Thursday February 17 to fill the vacancy caused by the death of the popular  Conservative, Debbie Woodward.

Given the seat's past political volatility, it is a seat that opposition parties will feel they could snatch.

It is not known if images of the Prime Minister will feature in the campaign literature of whoever is selected to be Tory candidate.  

Defeat in the Park ward could presage more woes for NELC's Conservative administration at the wider local elections in May. 

The outcome of the Park poll will also be watched with particular interest by Conservative MP Lia Nici who is one of the Prime Minister's staunchest backbench supporters.

The result of the Park poll which saw Debbie Woodward elected in May 2019 was as follows

Matthew Craig Barrow Labour                         491

Anthony Alan Blake UKIP                                 482

David Michael De Freitas Liberal Democrat 781

Debbie Woodward (Elected) Conservative       1034

The current state of the parties on NELC is as follows:

Conservative       31

Labour                 8

Liberal Democrats 3

The notice of next month's by-election is as follows:

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT

An election is to be held for a Councillor for the Park Ward.

Nomination papers may be obtained, between 10am and 4pm, from the Elections Team at the address shown below, or alternatively downloaded from the current elections section at Election dates and results

Completed nomination papers must be delivered to the Elections Team at the offices of North East Lincolnshire Council, at the address shown below, on any day after the date of this notice, between 10am and 4pm, but not later than 4pm on Friday, 21st January 2022.

If the election is contested, the poll will take place on Thursday, 17th February 2022 between the hours of 7am and 10pm.

Electors should take note that the deadline to register to vote for these elections is by midnight on Tuesday, 1st February 2022.  Any person registering after this date will be unable to vote at these elections.

Electors should take note that the deadline for new applications to vote by post or to change existing postal or proxy arrangements (e.g., cancellation or re-direction, etc) must reach the Elections Team at the address shown below by 5pm on Wednesday, 2nd February 2022 if they are to be effective for this election.

New applications to vote by proxy must be received by the Elections Team by 5pm on Wednesday, 9th February 2022.

The deadline for new applications to be received by the Elections Team to vote by proxy on grounds of occupation, service or employment or a medical condition, illness or disability arising after 5pm on Wednesday, 9th February 2022 is not later than 5pm on Thursday, 17th February 2022.

Dated: Thursday, 13th January 2022