LABOUR STRUGGLE TO FIND CANDIDATES FOR COUNTY ELECTIONS

12.09.53am BST (GMT +0100) Sat 16th Apr 2005

Only the Lib Dems are standing all over Northumberland. It has emerged following the close of nominations for Northumberland County Council elections last Thursday, that Labour are unable to field a full team of candidates for the 67 seats to be contested on May 5th.

With the Conservatives 4 short of a full slate, it leaves only the Liberal Democrats fighting for every seat, with 67 candidates united behind a plan to take Northumberland Council.

Cllr Neil Bradbury, who is standing in the council elections for Prudhoe West said:

"Following our manifesto launch on 24th March, and the subsequent announcement on 31st March that K3 campaigners were to join the Liberal Democrats, the confirmation that we are the only party contesting every seat shows that the momentum in Northumberland is with our campaign.

"On the other hand, it is clear that things are not going Labour's way in Northumberland.

"Hot on the heels of their failure to listen to their own consultation with residents over axing middle schools, Labour are now unable to find anyone prepared to stand up for them in large parts of the County.In large parts of the County, Labour have nothing to say to local residents, and no one to say it for them."

10 Divisions have no Labour candidate: Berwick North, Berwick East, Bamburgh, Rothbury, Amble West with Warkworth, Lesbury, Longhoughton, Ponteland East, Ponteland North, Ponteland West.

4 Divisions have no Conservative candidate: Alnwick, Amble West with Warkworth, Lesbury, Longhoughton.

All 67 Divisions have a Liberal Democrat candidate.