Battle lines drawn ahead of Wirral's local elections

Each group on the peninsula truly believe they have a chance of increasing their vote share on May 2, and next month's poll could be the most hotly contested in years.

That's because with 35 seats, the ruling Labour Party's majority is so slender that the council could go into No Overall Control if it loses just two of them.

And with last year's poll having produced majorities for Labour as narrow as 23 in Pensby and Thingwall, the ruling group – as well as the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats, Greens, Wirral Independent Group and UKIP, are fighting tooth and nail for every single vote.

To help make your mind up about which party you should vote for, the Local Democracy Reporting Service has asked them all to sum up what they are promising the electorate.

That's as well as what they see as the main issues faced by people in Wirral – from the green belt to road improvements to the council’s current structure.

These promises and the parties making them are listed below, in order of the biggest to smallest groups on the council – with the number of candidates put forward also listed.

Labour Party (currently holds 35 seats. Putting forward 22 candidates)

Wirral's Labour Party has laid out five promises it is making ahead of next month's poll, with a spokesman saying: "[We] will be offering voters a range of progressive policies, all aimed at mitigating the worst effects of Tory austerity."

The five promises relate to regeneration, children's services, helping low income households, highways and infrastructure and the green belt.

Speaking about regeneration, the spokesman said: "We will create 3,000 new jobs and apprenticeships for local people through a comprehensive programme of regeneration across the borough.

"We will also invest £1m from the Metro Mayor in improving Liscard and New Ferry.

"In terms of children's services, we have invested £20m in improving services for vulnerable children.

"Consistent praise from Ofsted, rapidly improving services and better outcomes for children shows that this investment is working."

In terms of low income households, he made reference to the council tax reduction scheme revealed earlier this year that will see more than 9,000 homes get a better deal on the charge.

On investing in highways and infrastructure, he added: "Over the coming year we will invest over £8m on a programme of highways improvements, pot-hole repairs and road-resurfacing.

"We will also replace every street light in the borough with new energy efficient lights."

And finally, on the controversial issue of the green belt – perhaps the most fiercely debated subject ahead of May's vote – he said: "Labour has lobbied the Tory government not to introduce unrealistic housing targets which put pressure on our precious green belt.

"We will always prioritise brownfield sites for development."

Conservative Party (21 seats. Putting forward 22 seats)

Cllr Ian Lewis, leader of the borough's opposition Conservative group, said it was the "first time in years" Wirral voters have had "real power to make a difference".

He said: "Labour's majority is now just two seats out of 66. With [leader] Cllr Phil Davies stepping down, there is every possibility that the Labour Group after May will be led by a Militant, hard-left successor."

That would mean job losses, poorer services and higher taxes "similar" to Derek Hatton's Liverpool in the 1980s, he said.

He added that if Labour lost two seats, it would force all parties to work together.

He added: "Wirral’s Conservative Councillors will fight for a Local Plan to protect our green belt, at the same time as directing investment into the areas that need it – such as Liscard and New Ferry.

"We also need to get a grip on the salaries paid to those at the top along with the army of private management consultants that Labour has employed.

"This, as well as scrapping the failing Wirral View newspaper, will release council tax payers' money for things like street light repairs, fixing our pot holes and road safety around schools."

Other policies include supporting businesses to invest in Wirral, attempting to create new jobs and apprenticeships, also supporting shops by cutting business rates and stopping "damaging" car parking charges.

He also said they would look at "scrapping" the leader and cabinet system, which "isn't good for democracy" – and has made the council "out of touch with the needs of local communities".

Liberal Democrats (five seats. Putting forward 16 candidates)

The Lib Dems are adamant in their policy statement that Wirral needs a "fresh start".

Cllr Allan Brame, chair of the party, said: "Cuts in government funding have put council finances under intolerable strain.

"Everyone can see the impact on local services. It shows in the state of our roads, failed street lights, and reduced street sweeping.

"Ten Labour members have all the places in the cabinet and have absolute power.

"They have sold off assets and used up reserves in a desperate attempt to prop up the budget.

"They have undermined Wirral's case for fairer funding from the Government by wasting your money on the unwanted Wirral View; paying eye-watering salaries to interim senior officers and hiring expensive consultants."

He said with the Labour group "riven by in-fighting", there is a "real prospect" they may not have outright power come May 3.

He added: "The Liberal Democrats stand ready to work across party divides in the interests of Wirral.

"The council needs to work together to safeguard our precious green belt as the Local Plan is developed.

"It needs to co-operate over the environmental crisis, rather than waste time and money on unwanted vanity projects such as the Hoylake Golf Resort.

"The two-party system is crumbling, nationally and locally. Liberal Democrats demand a more open, more inclusive way of running the council, free to work in Wirral's best interests."

Wirral Independent Group (Four seats. Putting forward one candidate)

The Wirral Independent Group claims "politics is broken".

The group's leader, Cllr Moira McLaughlin, said: "Voters are turning away from the main political parties in their droves.

"Wirral residents tell us they don't feel that their views are listened to at the town hall and decisions are being made without their opinions being taken into account.

"Over the last year we have seen more and more unrest from Wirral residents as a response to poor decision making.

"Hoylake Golf Resort, proposed dog bans and environmental enforcement have all generated a huge backlash from the community."

The group said it's time to "put the people of Wirral at the heart of decision making again".

Cllr McLaughlin added: "Whilst our group is small, we have the ability to focus solely on the needs of our residents rather than being dictated to by rigid dogma and party lines.

"We believe that Wirral Council needs to become more accountable to the electorate and a more equal relationship between councillors and residents needs to develop.

"Meaningful partnership with the community is the only way Wirral can win back the confidence of voters.

"Wirral Independent Group hope that by encouraging all the parties to put aside their differences and creating a more collaborative approach to council decision making, we can make Wirral a better place to live.

"Things need to change – that’s what people are telling us and we want all political parties to listen and work together."

Green Party (one seat. Putting forward 21 candidates)

Cllr Pat Cleary, the Wirral Green Party’s only elected member, said the group’s “key priority” was ensuring the local plan is “fit for purpose”

He explained: “We need to cut the number of empty properties, maximise brownfield potential and protect all of our green belt. Step changes are required to improve housing standards and prioritise active travel and public transport.”

Like the other opposition parties, he also took a swipe at the ruling Labour group, claiming it “continues to waste time and resources”.

He said: “We would abandon the so-called Hoylake Golf Resort, scrap Wirral View and take much stronger action on executive pay. Wirral Waters would be an absolute priority and, unlike the current administration, we would engage positively with the developer to maximise the existing green credentials of their plans.”

Another important priority for the Greens would be to declare a “climate emergency” – and put plans in place to “slash Wirral’s carbon footprint”.

He said: “We would ensure that single use plastics are phased out by Wirral Council as soon as possible. We would end the use of cancer-causing chemical weed killers. We would build on our success in securing divestment away from fossil fuels via the Merseyside Pension Fund which already amounts to £400m.”

He added: “Democracy in Wirral is broken with power concentrated in the hands of a few. Wirral Green Party would push for a committee system to ensure cooperation between all parties and make sure all councillors are listened to equally.”

Others

UKIP, which was contacted by the Local Democracy Reporting Service for its policy statement, currently holds no seats on the council, but has put forward candidates in seven wards.

There is also a single independent candidate, Mo Morgan, who is not a part of the Wirral Independent Group.