THE candidates for next month’s Cheshire East Council elections have been confirmed.

Voters will head to the polls on Thursday, May 2, to decide who they want to represent them on the borough council for the next four years.

The Conservative group has had a vice-like grip on the local authority since its creation a decade ago, and the party is fielding candidates in every ward with the aim of continuing its growth agenda.

But Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the Green Party are all hoping they can pick up seats across the borough, with CEC having been rocked by a string of scandals in recent years.

And the independent group – which includes Middlewich First and is currently the third largest group on the council – could also make gains in May.

Candidates for Cheshire East Council’s May 2019 election in Middlewich and the surrounding area

Middlewich – three councillors to be elected

Carol Bulman, Labour

Paul John Edwards, Conservative

Mike Hunter, Labour

Bill McCracken, Conservative

Simon Nicholas McGrory, Middlewich First (current member)

Jonathan Parry, Labour

Alison Roylance-White, Conservative

Bernice Walmsley, Middlewich First (current member)

William Walmsley, Middlewich First

(Cllr Mike Parsons, Middlewich First, is standing down)

Brereton Rural (including Moston and Warmingham) – one councillor to be elected

Mark Cameron Elves, independent

Geraint Huw Price Jones, Labour

John Valentine Frank Wray, Conservative (current member)

Dane Valley (including Holmes Chapel) – two councillors to be elected

Michelle Boath, Liberal Democrats

Pete Dale, Labour

Willow Dale, Labour

Les Gilbert, Conservative (current member)

Robert Michael St. John Green, Green Party

Andrew Michael James Kolker, Conservative (current member)

Richard James Wilson, Liberal Democrats