Local elections 2023: Your handy guide to seats and candidates

Here is your guide to the candidates and seats in the Lancaster and Morecambe District local elections for 2023.

Election polls will be open from 7am to 10pm on Thursday May 4.

The election count will take place on Friday May 5 at Lancaster Town Hall with results due that day.

Due to a change in law, voters must now bring ID when voting in local elections.

Related Story: Council advises residents that ID now required to vote in elections - Beyond Radio

LANCASTER CITY COUNCIL

CURRENT MAKE-UP OF LANCASTER CITY COUNCIL 

Labour 16 seats, Greens 15, Conservatives 9, Independent 8, Morecambe Bay Independents 6, Liberal Democrats 4, Vacant 2 

No group has overall control of the council. There are 60 seats in total currently but there will be 61 seats contested in the 2023 elections following a change in some ward boundaries.

The 27 Lancaster City Council wards where elections will take place are as follows:

Bare, Bolton and Slyne, Bowerham, Bulk, Carnforth and Millhead, Castle, Ellel, Halton-with-Aughton and Kellet, Heysham Central, Heysham North, Heysham South, John O'Gaunt, Lower Lune Valley, Marsh, Overton, Poulton, Scale Hall, Scotforth East, Scotforth West, Silverdale, Skerton, Torrisholme, University, Upper Lune Valley, Warton, West End, Westgate.

2023 ELECTION CANDIDATES (current councillors in bold)

BARE

Candidates: Christian Ainscough (Labour), Dan Balsamini (Liberal Democrats), Stuart James Alexander Bateson (Conservatives), Gerry Blaikie (Liberal Democrats), David Martin Bottoms (Morecambe Bay Independents), Lucie Kathleen Carrington (Green), Lynda Dagdeviren (Liberal Democrats), Mark John Dugan (Independent), Sean Hughes (Green), Matthew Robert Jakeman (Conservatives), Faith Kenrick (Labour), Kate Sarah Knight (Conservatives), Sarah Elizabeth Knight (Morecambe Bay Independents), Andy Lee (Green), Russell Robert Walsh (Morecambe Bay Independents)

Seats (3) currently held by Tony Anderson (Independent), Gerry Blaikie (Liberal Democrats), Sarah Knight (Morecambe Bay Independents)

BOLTON and SLYNE

Candidates: Keith William Budden (Conservatives), Gideon Jonathan Johnson Flemming (Green), Craig Mossop (Labour), Kate Mossop (Labour), Laura Ceri Mumford (Green), Paul Morris Newton (Conservatives), Tony Saville (Liberal Democrats), Janet Swan (Green), Ivan Wheatley (Liberal Democrats), John Graeme Wild (Conservatives)

Seats (3) currently held by Keith Budden (Conservatives), Malcolm Thomas (Conservatives), John Wild (Conservatives)

BOWERHAM

Candidates: Peter William Curphey (Labour and Co-Operative), Charles Edwards (Conservatives), Erica Ruth Estelle Lewis (Labour and Co-Operative), Hamish David Mills (Green), Sarah Punshon (Green), Lisa Michelle Sue-Too (Liberal Democrats), Charlotte Beryl Whitehouse (Conservatives)

New ward (2 seats)

BULK

Candidates: Callum Brandon Banthorpe (Conservatives), Stefanie Claudia Doebler (Labour), Phil Dunster (Liberal Democrats), Daniel Fletcher (Labour), Nathan Gaskill (Conservatives), Kyle James Hall (Conservatives), Caroline St Joan Jackson (Green), Richard Marc Johnson (Labour), Jack Lenox (Green), Sam Riches (Green)

Seats (3) currently held by Tim Hamilton-Cox (Green), Caroline Jackson (Green), Jack Lenox (Green)

CARNFORTH and MILLHEAD

Candidates: Louise Belcher (Labour and Co-Operative), Kath Bromilow (Conservatives), Daren Christian Chandisingh (Green), Paul Malcolm Gardner (Labour and Co-Operative), Mel Guilding (Conservatives), Chris Hanna (Labour and Co-Operative), Amelia Chloe Jones (Green), Jon Sear (Green), Peter Allan Yates (Conservatives)

Seats (3) currently held by Mel Guilding (Conservatives), Luke Taylor (Labour), Peter Yates (Conservatives) 

CASTLE

Candidates: Jeremy Hugh Bateman (Labour), Henry Joseph Beesley (Liberal Democrats), Dave Brookes (Green), Emma Lindsey Corless (Labour), Scott Andrew Farmer (Conservatives), Shelagh McGregor (Green), Becca Snow (Labour), Paul Byron Stubbins (Green), Jakob Stuchlik (Conservatives), Kevan Stuart Walton (Conservatives)

Seats (3) currently held by Dave Brookes (Green), Paul Stubbins (Green), plus new seat

ELLEL

Candidates: Richard Lindsay Peregrine St John Austen-Baker (Conservatives), Shaun Stephen Corkerry (Labour and Co-Operative), Robert Alan Fildes (Liberal Democrats), Anna Winifred Hopkins (Labour and Co-Operative), Sally Ann Shelley Maddocks (Green), Jason John Park (Conservatives), Paul Francis Tynan (Green)

Seats (2) currently held by Richard Austen-Baker (Conservatives), Sally Maddocks (Green)

HALTON-WITH-AUGHTON and KELLET

Candidates: Daniel Scott Gibbins (Conservatives), Kathryn Elaine Hyde (Labour), Sarah Janet McGowan (Green), Stuart Charles Morris (Conservatives), James Andrew Sommerville (Green), Thomas Henry White (Liberal Democrats)

New ward (2 seats)

Halton-with-Aughton seat currently held by Kevin Frea (Green), Kellet seat held by Stuart Morris (Conservatives)

HEYSHAM CENTRAL

Candidates: Catherine Ann Armistead (Labour), Ben Foulsham (Liberal Democrats), Geoff Knight (Morecambe Bay Independents), Susan Meryl Penney (Labour), Lee Taylor-Craddock (Conservatives), Gina Thistlethwaite (Morecambe Bay Independents), Cai Wingfield (Green), Joanna Mary Young (Green)

Seats (2) currently held by Geoff Knight (Morecambe Bay Independents), Cary Matthews (Independent)

HEYSHAM NORTH

Candidates: Elaine Mary Chapple (Liberal Democrats), Roger Timothy Cleet (Independent), Claire Emily Cozler (Labour and Co-Operative), Mark Andrew Jarnell (Labour and Co-Operative), Clark Kent (Morecambe Bay Independents), Sam Mall (Conservatives), Jan Maskell (Green), Patrick McMurray (Green), Anthony David Padgett (Morecambe Bay Independents), Louise Sandra Stansfield (Liberal Democrats)

Seats (2) currently held by Victoria Boyd-Power (Independent), Roger Cleet (Independent)

HEYSHAM SOUTH

Candidates: Philip Mark Bradley (Labour), Maria Holly Deery (Green), Pat Freeman (Conservatives), Josiah Fulton (Morecambe Bay Independents), Mike Greenall (Morecambe Bay Independents), Colin Hartley (Labour), Sheldon Kent (Liberal Democrats), Emma Victoria Knight (Morecambe Bay Independents), Catherine Mary Potter (Labour), Gisela Christine Renolds (Green), William Edward Riley (Conservative), Hildegard Hope Wild (Green)

Seats (3) currently held by Alan Biddulph (Labour), Mike Greenall (Morecambe Bay Independents), Colin Hartley (Labour)

JOHN O'GAUNT

Candidates: Suhir Abuhajar (Green), Lisa Montserrat Corkerry (Labour and Co-Operative), Morgan James Gray (Conservatives), James Peter Harvey (Liberal Democrats), Paul Jason Kitchen (Conservatives), Linda Mary Prue (Labour and Co-Operative), Grace Russell (Green)

Seats (2) reduced from 3 currently held by Erica Lewis (Labour), Faye Penny (Green), Alistair Sinclair (Green)

LOWER LUNE VALLEY

Candidates: Joan Parkinson Jackson (Conservatives), Peter James Jackson (Liberal Democrats), Andrew Martin Kay (Labour), Mandy King (Labour), Matthew Joseph Maxwell-Scott (Conservatives), Rosie Mae Mills (Green), Joyce Pritchard (Liberal Democrats), Mike Wright (Green)

Seats (2) currently held by Joan Jackson (Conservative), Joyce Pritchard (Liberal Democrats)

MARSH

Candidates: Mandy Bannon (Green), Morgane Louise Mary-Ann Cozler (Labour), Gina Dowding (Green), Anthony Desmond Harmey (Conservatives), Jessica Rose Rafferty (Labour), Benjamin Joel Soffa (Labour), Amy Louise Stanning (Liberal Democrats), Ryan Timmings (Conservatives), Nick Wilkinson (Green), Joe William Wrennall (Conservatives) 

Seats (3) currently held by Mandy Bannon (Green), Gina Dowding (Green), plus new seat

OVERTON

Candidates: Andrew Paul Gardiner (Conservatives), David Maddocks (Green), Jason Chadwick Slater (Morecambe Bay Independents), Jean Elizabeth Yates (Labour)

Seat (1) currently held by Andrew Gardiner (Conservatives) 

POULTON

Candidates: Vicky Boyd-Power (Independent), Paul Bernard Hart (Liberal Democrats), Jaimie Ann Heath (Morecambe Bay Independents), Tricia Heath (Morecambe Bay Independents), John Livermore (Liberal Democrats), Julie Faith McMurray (Green), Terrie Metcalfe (Labour), Pete Moser (Green), Matthew Zak Panesh (Labour), Joan Yates (Conservatives)

Seats (2) currently held by Tricia Heath (Morecambe Bay Independents), Debbie Jenkins (Independent)

SCALE HALL

Candidates: Phillip John Black (Labour), Ruth Colbridge (Labour), Dominic James Thomas Hardy (Green), Jessica Elizabeth Long (Liberal Democrats), Joanne Lowther-Edwards (Conservatives), Hilda Jean Parr (Labour), Geoffrey Eldred Pogson (Green), Ceri Sian Turner (Green)

New ward (3 seats)

SCOTFORTH EAST

Candidates: Stephanie Ann Hoggarth (Conservatives), Robin Eamonn Long (Liberal Democrats), Sophie Louise Maddocks (Labour and Co-Operative), Nancy Lola Mills (Green), Georges Benjamin Quinn (Conservatives), Caroline Nancy Robertson (Green), Jason Wood (Labour and Co-Operative)

Seats (2) currently held by: Anne Whitehead (Labour), Jason Wood (Labour) 

SCOTFORTH WEST

Candidates: Sayeda Fabiha Hassan Askari (Labour), Leon Theodore Dexter (Conservatives), Tim Hamilton-Cox (Green), Harvey George Hayes (Conservatives), Malcolm Allan Martin (Liberal Democrats), Davina Anne Miller (Labour), Abi Mills (Green)

Seats (2 - reduced from 3 seats) currently held by Tim Dant (Green), Abi Mills (Green), Joanna Young (Green)

SILVERDALE

Candidates: William Alan Greenwell (Liberal Democrats), Anna McCoy (Green), Brenda Daphne Florence Rockall (Labour), Phillippa Williamson (Conservatives)

Seat (1) currently held by June Greenwell (Liberal Democrats) 

SKERTON

Candidates: Kathryn Bain (Green), Emlyn David Busby (Green), Geoffrey Martin Gawith (Labour), Alexandra Ann Hailey (Conservatives), Emily Heath (Green), Derek John Kaye (Liberal Democrats), Robert Michael Redfern (Labour), Anna Sandra Thornberry (Labour), Julian Paul Webb (Conservatives), Michael Richard Wilkinson (Conservatives)

New ward (3 seats)

Skerton West seats currently held by Phillip Black (Labour), Mandy King (Labour), Jean Parr (Labour)
Skerton East seats held by Abbott Bryning (Labour), Robert Redfern (Labour), Sandra Thornberry (Labour)

TORRISHOLME

Candidates: Brett Martin Cooper (Morecambe Bay Independents), Wendy Barbara Cowley (Independent), Roger Thomas Francis Dennison (Morecambe Bay Independents), Colin Hewitt (Conservatives), Rob Livesey (Greens), Cary Jane Matthews (Independent), Thomas Brian Penney (Labour), Rebecca Aimee Lanyon Willmott (Green), Teresa Mary Wilson (Liberal Democrats)

Seats (2) currently held by Paul Anderton (Independent), Roger Dennison (Morecambe Bay Independents)

UNIVERSITY

Candidates: Thomas Edward Cross (Liberal Democrats), Cormac McVeigh Evans (Liberal Democrats), Tom Fish (Green), Erin Christina Hall (Labour and Co-Operative), Bawan Arkan Hassan (Conservatives), Khai Helmy (Conservatives), Lewis Vines Hurst (Labour and Co-Operative), Isabella Caitlin Metcalf-Riener (Green)

New ward (2 seats)

University and Scotforth Rural seats currently held by Fabiha Askari (Labour), Oliver Robinson (Labour)

UPPER LUNE VALLEY

Candidates: Ross Douglas Hunter (Liberal Democrats), Jane Parkinson (Conservatives), Jamie Payne (Green)

Seat (1) currently held by Ross Hunter (Liberal Democrats)

WARTON

Candidates: David Ainsworth (Labour), Tom Harvey (Conservatives), Jane Parsons (Liberal Democrats), Sue Tyldesley (Green)

Seat (1) currently held by Sue Tyldesley (Green)

WEST END

Candidates: Joanne Lindsey Ainscough (Labour), Kate Aspinall (Morecambe Bay Independents), Clara Maria Helene Bandszus (Green), Trevor Alan Duncan (Morecambe Bay Independents), Michael Wayne Ennis (Conservatives), Angela Jane Fletcher (Morecambe Bay Independents), Sarah Catherine Hester (Green), Margaret Elizabeth Pattison (Labour), Jake Aaron Ross Perkins (Liberal Democrats), Catherine Pilling (Liberal Democrats), Jim Pilling (Liberal Democrats), Mark Miles Westcombe (Green), David Whitaker (Labour)

New ward (3 seats)

Harbour ward seats currently held by Darren Clifford (Independent), Margaret Pattison (Labour), David Whitaker (Labour)

WESTGATE

Candidates: Kathy Bashford (Green), Matthew David Black (Labour), Dan Blacow (Morecambe Bay Independents), Wayne Ronald Dixon (Morecambe Bay Independents), Alison Elizabeth Gordon (Green), John Robert Hanson (Labour), Chris Harris (Labour), Bill Jackson (Liberal Democrats), Carole Louise Johnston (Conservatives), Debbie Knight (Morecambe Bay Independents), Stuart Charles Staig (Conservatives), Monika Marie-Luise Stenneken (Liberal Democrats), Tom Timothy Sutton (Liberal Democrats), Jago Howard Gannicliffe Westaway (Green)

Seats (3) currently held by Jason Firth (Morecambe Bay Independents), Jake Goodwin (Independent), third seat vacant

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MORECAMBE TOWN COUNCIL

CURRENT MAKE-UP OF MORECAMBE TOWN COUNCIL

Liberal Democrats 8, Morecambe Bay Independents 6, Independent 5, Together for Morecambe 4, Labour 3

No group has overall control of the town council. There are 26 seats in total.

The 11 Morecambe Town Council wards where elections will take place are as follows:

Bare North, Bare South East, Bare South West, Harbour, Heysham North, Lowlands Road, Lune Drive, Out Moss Lane, Poulton, Torrisholme and Westgate.

BARE NORTH

Candidates: David Martin Bottoms (Morecambe Bay Independents), Lee Mark Bradbury (Morecambe Bay Independents), Derek John Kaye (Liberal Democrats), Amy Louise Stanning (Liberal Democrats), Anne Doris Thompson (Liberal Democrats), Russell Robert Walsh (Morecambe Bay Independents)

Seats (3) currently held by June Ashworth (Morecambe Bay Independents, Alex Ashworth (Morecambe Bay Independents), Glenys Dennison (Morecambe Bay Independents)

BARE SOUTH EAST

Candidates: Dan Balsamini (Liberal Democrats), Roger Dennison (Morecambe Bay Independents)

Seat (1) currently held by Gerald Blaikie (Liberal Democrats)

BARE SOUTH WEST

Candidates: Lynda Dagdeviren (Liberal Democrats), Geoff Knight (Morecambe Bay Independents)

Seat (1) currently held by Phil Forster (Liberal Democrats)

HARBOUR

Candidates: Christian Ainscough (Labour), Joanne Lindsey Ainscough (Labour), Kate Aspinall (Morecambe Bay Independents), Elaine Mary Chapple (Liberal Democrats), Trevor Alan Duncan (Morecambe Bay Independents), Angela Jane Fletcher (Morecambe Bay Independents), John Robert Hanson (Labour), Jamie Jenkinson (Morecambe Bay Independents), Katrina Kent (Morecambe Bay Independents), Margaret Elizabeth Pattison (Labour), Jake Aaron Ross Perkins (Liberal Democrats), Catherine Pilling (Liberal Democrats), Louise Sandra Stansfield (Liberal Democrats), Clive Digby Tester (Liberal Democrats), David Whitaker (Labour)

Seats (5) currently held by Lynda Dagdeviren (Liberal Democrats), David Whitaker (Labour), Catherine Pilling (Liberal Democrats), Ava Balcer (Independent), Mariusz Balcer (Independent)

HEYSHAM NORTH

Candidates: Trish Clarke (Independent), Claire Emily Cozler (Labour), Clark Kent (Morecambe Bay Independents), Mavis Newton (Morecambe Bay Independents), Anthony David Padgett (Morecambe Bay Independents), Cameron Ellis Williams (Labour)

Seats (3) currently held by Vicky Boyd-Power (Together for Morecambe), Trish Clarke (Independent), Louise Stansfield (Liberal Democrats)

LOWLANDS ROAD

Candidates: Richard Martin Blaikie (Liberal Democrats), Jason Chadwick Slater (Morecambe Bay Independents)

Seat (1) currently held by Wendy Cowley (Together for Morecambe)

LUNE DRIVE

Candidates: Jim Pilling (Liberal Democrats), Gina Thistlethwaite (Morecambe Bay Independents)

Seat (1) currently held by Jim Pilling (Liberal Democrats)

OUT MOSS LANE

Candidates: Helen Mary Ball (Morecambe Bay Independents), John Goodrich (Labour), Sheldon Kent (Liberal Democrats)

Seat (1) currently held by Margaret Pattison (Labour)

POULTON

Candidates: Vicky Boyd-Power (Together for Morecambe), Liam Steven Coghlan (Labour), Paul Bernard Hart (Liberal Democrats), Jaimie Ann Heath (Morecambe Bay Independents), Tricia Heath (Morecambe Bay Independents), Glenys Huntington (Morecambe Bay Independents), John Livermore (Liberal Democrats), Terasa Ann Metcalfe (Labour), Matthew Zak Panesh (Labour), Monika Marie-Luise Stenneken (Liberal Democrats)

Seats (3) currently held by Cary Matthews (Together for Morecambe), Tricia Heath (Morecambe Bay Independents), Paul Hart (Liberal Democrats)

TORRISHOLME

Candidates: John Bates (Together for Morecambe), Brett Martin Cooper (Morecambe Bay Independents), Hannah Faye Cooper (Morecambe Bay Independents), Wendy Barbara Cowley (Together for Morecambe), Jessica Elizabeth Long (Liberal Democrats), Cary Jane Matthews (Together for Morecambe), Jackie Rogerson (Morecambe Bay Independents)

Seats (3) currently held by Roger Dennison (Morecambe Bay Independents), John Bates (Together for Morecambe), Paul Anderton (Independent)

WESTGATE

Candidates: Dan Blacow (Morecambe Bay Independents), Wayne Ronald Dixon (Morecambe Bay Independents), Keri Rosemary Gee (Morecambe Bay Independents), Bill Jackson (Liberal Democrats), Debbie Knight (Morecambe Bay Independents)

Seats (4) currently held by Ian Clift (Labour), Jason Firth (Morecambe Bay Independents), Jake Goodwin (Independent), Bill Jackson (Liberal Democrats)

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ELLEL PARISH COUNCIL

ELLEL NORTH

Candidates: Stephen Booth, Lisa Montserrat Corkerry (Labour and Co-Operative), Shaun Stephen Corkerry (Labour and Co-Operative), Steph Hoggarth

ELLEL SOUTH

Candidates: Iain William Collinson, Anna Winifred Hopkins (Labour and Co-Operative), Peter James Mather, Keith Roger Pollitt

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UNCONTESTED ELECTIONS

The elections for the following parish councils and wards are uncontested, meaning nominees will be automatically elected:

Aldcliffe-with-Stodday, Arkholme-with-Cawood, Bolton-le-Sands, Carnforth, Caton-with-Littledale, Ellel University East and University West wards, Halton-with-Aughton, Heaton-with-Oxcliffe, Hornby-with-Farleton, Ireby-with-Leck, Melling-with-Wrayton, Middleton, Nether Kellet, Over Kellet, Over Wyresdale, Overton, Quernmore, Scotforth, Silverdale, Slyne-with-Hest, Tatham, Thurnham, Warton, Wennington, Whittington, Wray-with-Botton, Yealand Conyers and Yealand Redmayne.

See here for details of candidates.

The next Lancashire County Council elections are due in May 2025.

The next General Election is due to take place no later than January 2025.

Previous Lancaster City Council election seats won:

2019

Labour 21, Morecambe Bay Independents 14, Conservatives 12, Greens 10, Liberal Democrats 3

2015

Labour 29, Conservatives 19, Greens 9, Morecambe Bay Independents 2, Independent 1, Liberal Democrats 0

2011

Labour 24, Conservatives 16, Greens 8, Morecambe Bay Independents 8, Independent 4, Liberal Democrats 0

2007

Labour 15, Conservatives 12, Greens 12, Morecambe Bay Independents 11, Liberal Democrats 5, Independent 5

2003

Labour 20, Morecambe Bay Independents 11, Conservatives 10, Liberal Democrats 8, Greens 7, Independent 4