Lib Dems the real opposition as record number of candidates stand

6.18.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Sat 14th Apr 2007

In the forthcoming District Council elections (May 3rd 2007) The Lib Dems have stood a record number of candidates in both Prudhoe and Tynedale. Voters will have the chance to vote Lib Dem in all but one seat in Tynedale (South Tynedale). This contrasts with Labour who are only standing in 11 wards (out of 31) and are running only 19 candidates out of a potential 52.

In what the Hexham Courant described as "a major effort to wrest control from the ruling Tory group" The Liberal Democrats are offering voters a chance to cast their vote. "Last time around too many of the seats were uncontested and candidates got in without an election" said Cllr Neil Bradbury of Prudhoe West. "The Liberal democrats wanted people to have their basic right to have a choice. We are the only realistic choice to the Conservatives in Tynedale. even if all the Labour candidates got elected they would not have enough councilors to control the council and carry out their promises.

The collapse in the number of Labour candidates standing is a national trend in these elections with Labour standing the least amount of council candidates nationally, the first time this has happened since world war II.