The resignation of Green Party councillor has trigged a ballot in Sefton Park
People enjoying a walk around the lake in Sefton Park(Image: Andy Teebay)
Voters will go to the polls later this week for the second Liverpool Council by-election of the year. Ballots will be cast in Sefton Park on Thursday to choose a new member of the city council.
Households will be asked to cast their vote in a by-election following the resignation of former councillor John Howard. The Green Party member, who had served as deputy leader of the group, stepped down last month.
Liverpool Council confirmed that five candidates will stand in a by-election to replace him on July 17. Former councillor Dr Howard won 57% of the vote in 2023’s all out election for the Green Party, comfortably beating Labour’s Jim Davies into second place.
His resignation leaves the opposition group with just two councillors. Dr Howard is a research scientist at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine investigating how to overcome the spread of malaria by mosquitoes, and a union organiser for the University and Colleges Union. It is understood he has stepped down owing to work commitments.
A notice of election was confirmed by the city council online and posted outside Liverpool Town Hall in June. More than 4,000 people will have the chance to cast their vote later this week.
The Green Party announced Katie Jarman as their candidate on June 5, with Dr Howard’s resignation formally confirmed on June 8. Connor Campbell will represent the Labour Party while French-born venture capitalist Marc d’Abbadie will stand for the Conservative Party.
Harry Gallimore-King has been nominated by Reform UK as the party looks to take its first seat on the city council.
Tristan Paul has been put forward to stand as the Liberal Democrat representative.
Candidates were confirmed by the city council on June 20.
A voter placing a ballot paper in the ballot box(Image: PA)
Anyone wishing to vote in person on election day at their designated polling station will be required to show a valid form of photo ID.
Thursday’s vote is the first city council by-election since January when a contest was held in Much Woolton and Hunts Cross.
Cllr Josie Mullen was returned to Liverpool Town Hall for the Liberal Democrats as fewer than 2,000 people turned out in the ward poll.
The vote was called following the resignation of former councillor Dave Aizlewood in December last year owing to health issues.
Cllr Mullen returned to frontline politics having previously served for a decade as a Liberal Democrat before campaigning for the Green Party.