Candidates have been announced for local elections in Hastings.
There are eight county council divisions in Hastings, all are represented by a single councillor. An election will take place in all eight seats on May 7.
Going into the election, the town’s county council seats were held by: three Conservative councillors; three Labour councillors; one Green Party councillor; and one Reform UK councillor.
The county council’s overall political make up had been: 22 Conservative councillors; 11 Liberal Democrats; six Green Party councillors; five Labour councillors; two independents; two Independent Democrats; and two Reform UK councillors.
This meant the 50-seat council was in no overall control, as no single party had a sufficient majority.
The borough council has 16 wards, each represented by two councillors.
One candidate will be elected to each of the wards, with the exception of St Helens ward where two candidates will be elected as a result of the resignation of Labour councillor David Whitehill in March.
Going into the election, the council is formed of: 12 Green Party councillors; eight Labour councillors; six Hastings Independent Group councillors; five Conservatives; and one vacant seat (which had previously been held by Mr Whitehill).
This political make-up meant that no individual party had an overall majority on the 32-seat council.
As some councillors are not up for election (having been elected for a four-year term in 2024), the council’s political make-up is likely to have a baseline position.
This baseline position — barring unexpected defections and/or resignations between now and polling day — is likely to be: nine Green Party councillors; four Labour councillors; and two Conservative councillors.
A list of the candidates for each election can be found below.
County council election candidates
Ashdown and Conquest
Louise Chantal, Labour and Cooperative Party. Aidan Christian Fisher, Reform UK. Stewart Gregory Rayment, Liberal Democrat. Roger Streeten, The Conservative Party Candidate. Paula Warne, Green Party.
Baird and Ore
Liam Atkins, The Conservative Party Candidate. Kim Forward, Labour and Cooperative Party. Martin Paul Griffiths, Liberal Democrat. Jack Phillip McCree, Reform UK. Jo Waker, Green Party.
Braybrooke and Castle
Peter Anthony Clarke, Reform UK. Paul Patrick James Foster, The Conservative Party Candidate. Becca Horn, Green Party. Josh Matthews, The Labour Party candidate. Stephen Ludwig Milton, Liberal Democrat.
Central St Leonards and Gensing
Anne Gallop, Liberal Democrat. Amanda Christabel Jobson, Green Party. Caroline June Kerswell, The Conservative Party Candidate. Philip Morgan, Reform UK. Trevor Redmond, Labour and Cooperative Party.
Hollington and Wishing Tree
Stephen Butterton, The Conservative Party Candidate. Mark Estcourt, Reform UK. Terry Keen, Liberal Democrat. John Rankin, Labour Party Candidate. Justin Lee Wynne, Green Party.
Maze Hill and West St Leonards
Matthew Joseph Beaver, The Conservative Party Candidate. Derek Lawrence, Reform UK. Bruce Meredeen, Liberal Democrat. Anna Sabin, Labour Party Candidate. Karen Simnett, Green Party.
Old Hastings and Tressell
James Edward Bacon, Labour Party Candidate. Donna Lynette Harris, Liberal Democrat. Julia Jane Hilton, Green Party. Yoong Kam, Reform UK. Andrew Robert Patmore, The Conservative Party Candidate.
St Helens and SilverhillSean Clarke, Reform UK. Shaun Dowling, Green Party. Bob Lloyd, Liberal Democrat. Howard Martin, The Conservative Party Candidate. Margi O’Callaghan, Labour and Cooperative Party.
Borough council election candidates
AshdownLouise Chantal, Labour and Cooperative Party. Michael Justinian Edwards, The Conservative Party Candidate. Daniel Kendrick, Reform UK. Marie Louise Parfitt, Green Party. Robert John Wakeford, Liberal Democrat.
BairdLiam Atkins, The Conservative Party Candidate. Rick Dillon, Labour Party Candidate. Jack Philp McCree, Reform UK. Will Rumfitt, Green Party. Mike Turner, Independent.BraybrookeYoong Kam, Reform UK. Archie Lauchlan, Green Party. Josh Matthews, Labour Party Candidate. John Richard Waterfall, The Conservative Party Candidate.
CastleCharlie Cooke, The Conservative Party Candidate. Steph Fawbert, Green Party. Judy Rogers, Labour Party Candidate. Graeme White, Liberal Democrat.
Central St LeonardsAlex Dudley, Reform UK. Caroline June Kerswell, The Conservative Party Candidate. Trevor Redmond, Labour and Cooperative Party. Solly Solamito, Green Party.
ConquestRob Drew, Reform UK. Ian James Gillam, Green Party. Hugh Philip Nicholson, Labour Party Candidate. Stewart Gregory Rayment, Liberal Democrat. Roger Streeten, The Conservative Party Candidate.
GensingShane Atkins, The Conservative Party Candidate. Amanda Christabel Jobson, Green Party. Jet Rankin, Reform UK. John Williams, Labour Party Candidate.HollingtonMatthew Clifford Ainsworth, The Conservative Party Candidate. Will Chapman, Reform UK. Andrea Cowhig, Independent. Angela Liliet Harris, Labour and Cooperative Party. Justin Lee Wynne, Green Party.
Maze HillRob Cooke, The Conservative Party Candidate. Lee Joseph Grant, Liberal Democrat. Rosie Murphy, Reform UK. Tim John Cairns Shand, Labour and Cooperative Party. Karen Simnett, Green Party. Old HastingsJames Edward Bacon, Labour Party Candidate. Steve Foot, Reform UK. Mike Frith, Green Party. Ray Molloy, The Conservative Party Candidate.
OreWojciech Duczmal, Reform UK. Kim Forward, Labour and Cooperative Party. Clem McCulloch, Green Party. Brett Reginald McClean, The Conservative Party Candidate. Vicky Wilson, Independent. SilverhillCraig Steven Andrew, The Conservative Party Candidate. Ian Moore, Reform UK. Margi O’Callaghan, Labour and Cooperative Party. Dulcie Reynolds, Green Party. Nigel Sinden, Independent.
St Helens (note: two seats are available in this ward)Andy Batsford, Independent. Stephen Scott Butterton, The Conservative Party Candidate. Peter Anthony Clarke, Reform UK. Shaun Dowling, Green Party. Barney Green, Labour Party Candidate. Bob Lloyd, Liberal Democrat. Helen Martin, Labour and Cooperative Party. Howard Martin, The Conservative Party Candidate. Jessica Townsend, Green Party. Hazel Edith Vanbergen, Reform UK.
TressellIngrid Kristina Kathleen Allan, Labour Party Candidate. Glenn Haffenden, Green Party. Ricky Hodges, Reform UK. Shelley Lee, The Conservative Party Candidate.
West St LeonardsMatthew Joseph Beaver, The Conservative Party Candidate. Emma Joliffe, Green Party. Derek Lawrence, Reform UK. Eve Montgomery, Liberal Democrat. Anna Sabin, Labour Party Candidate.
Wishing TreeJohn Cannan, Independent. Wendy Cooke, The Conservative Party Candidate. Melanie Kavanagh, Green Party. Mal McDermott, Libertarian Party UK. John Rankin, Labour Party Candidate. Doreena Ross, Reform UK.