THE Labour Party has announced a proportion of its candidates for next year’s local elections - and there’s a number of new faces.
Barnsley will hold its first all-out local council elections next May with every seat up for grabs on the same day.
Labour has held a majority on Barnsley Council since its formation in 1974, making it one of the party’s long-standing strongholds.
But with the way the elections are taking place changing from one third of the councillors being elected to all out, there’s likely to be some changes.
Current Penistone East councillors John Roberts and Dr Alex Burnett have been chosen in their ward, with campaigner Frances Nixon fighting to take the seat of Robert Barnard, the last Conservative councillor in the chamber.
Dearne North councillors Sue Bellamy, Martin Morrell and Wendy Cain have been re-selected in their area, as have Cudworth councillors Steve Houghton, Joe Hayward and Anita Cherryholme.
Couns Ruth Booker, Dorothy Coates and Ashley Peace will contest their own seats in the North East ward, as will Royston councillors Pauline McCarthy and Dave Webster.
Teresa Wilcockson, who has failed to be elected in previous elections, will stand in Lib Dem stronghold Darton East.
While Couns Kevin Osborne and Pauline Markham will be joined by Richard Ullyott in Darfield, with Coun Trevor Smith resigning from the party to become an independent - with his eyes set on becoming a Reform councillor.
Experienced Labour councillors Trevor Cave and Sharon Howard were reselected to continue their work in Darton West and will be joined by trade unionist Simon Williamson.
Coun Alice Cave is to step down.
Old Town councillors Phil Lofts and Jo Newing will contest their seats alongside new man Brandon Green after Coun Clive Pickering defected to the Lib Dems earlier this year.
Hoyland Milton councillors Robin Franklin, Tim Shepherd and Mick Stowe will return at next year’s elections, as will Stairfoot representatives Karen Dyson, Paul Murray and Ian Shirt.
Sherry Holling, the only Labour councillor in Rockingham, will stand again - and so will John Clarke and Roy Bowser in Worsbrough.
