Bromyard West By-Election: Labour backs out of ward election

North Herefordshire Constituency Labour Party has said it will not now field a candidate in the Bromyard West ward by-election.

The party said in a statement:  “We have decided not to stand a candidate in this election, to focus our efforts on the main council elections coming in 2023.”

It added: “For these we will be looking for local candidates to stand for Labour and to campaign on the range of topics vital to our lives in Herefordshire.

“These include our environment and the scandal of river pollution, the shocking state of our social care services both for adults and children, the need for proper road and transport policies for rural areas and a sustainable future.”

Labour had previously indicated that it would stand, along with the Conservatives, though neither had named a candidate.

The election is due to be held on March 10. Candidates’ nomination papers must be submitted by the end of this week (February 11).

Meanwhile, a scheduled town council election, also for the Bromyard West ward, will not now take place as not enough candidates have come forward.

The election, the latest of several attempts to fil the vacancy, had been scheduled for February 24.

But Herefordshire Council, which oversees both county and parish council elections in Herefordshire, said: “Due to this being the eighth time we have held this election, we will not be rescheduling it within 35 days as we have done previously.

The election will now “roll forward” to be included in the next full local government elections on May 4, 2023, the council said.