THE ever-changing political landscape of Hyndburn borough will undergo another earthquake in next month's local government elections.

The results of the town hall poll are even more unpredictable than usual with both main parties dogged by problems.

Labour heads into the campaign reeling from a series of damaging resignations from the party.

Five sitting councillors, including council leader Cllr Miles Parkinson, have quit claiming Labour had become 'toxic' in the borough.

St Oswald's ward's Chris Knight is not standing for family reasons, while former Euro-MP Michael Hindley has resigned from the council after having been cautioned by the police and suspended by Labour over an altercation with former Labour councillor Gareth Molineux, now a Tory candidate in Overton.

On the other hand the Conservatives - already reeling from the local fallout of the 'Partygate' scandal in Downing Street - have both leader Cllr Marlene Haworth and her deputy Cllr Peter Britcliffe facing a standards committee inquiry after comments made during a planning committee meeting.

This leaves the authority already finely politically balanced even before the May 5 elections.

MORE: Every candidate running in May 5 local elections in Lancashire

Labour, which was firmly in control before the five councillors left the party, now has 15 councillors to the Conservative's 12.

There are now six Independent councillors - five former Labour and ex-Tory Patrick McGinley - and two vacancies.

On May 5 there are 12 council seats up for grabs in 11 wards including two in Oswaldtwistle's St Oswald's.

Mr Hindley's Overton ward will see a by-election later in the year as his resignation was too late for it to be included in the borough-wide poll.

Hoping to exploit the chaos affecting the two main parties are Reform UK (formerly known as the Brexit Party) which is fielding six candidates.

To add further spice to the campaign there are three independent hopefuls; former UKIP Parliamentary candidate Janet Brown, who is one of seven candidates in St Oswald's; maverick former councillor Malcolm Pritchard standing in his former Milnshaw ward in Accrington; and Andrew Harris in Rishton.

Acting Labour leader Cllr Paul Cox said: "Hyndburn residents are now being hit by escalating fuel, food and borrowing costs.

"The Conservatives have increased council tax at Lancashire County Council by the maximum 5.99 per cent in return for major cuts to services.

"Hyndburn Borough Council has seen some of the most savage cuts to local government nationally, with cuts totalling more than 41 per cent of its budget.

"Despite the huge challenges that this has created, Labour has been able to protect local services.

"Hyndburn Labour believe people deserve a secure future within an area that can provide high quality employment opportunities, developed brown field sites, protected the green belt and creating homes for families and senior citizens alike. A place where health and wellbeing are a right not a privilege.

"Labour are continuing to deliver in some of the most challenging circumstances that local government has faced for decades. "

Mr Pritchard, a veteran of several different parties, said: "I am standing because the council is in such disarray.

"The two main parties are divided and have nothing to offer the residents of Milnshaw.

"Hyndburn politics is like big children's playground. We need councillors who put people before politics and not politics before people as they do now."

Reform UK leader Wayne Fitzharris, hoping to benefit from a history of UKIP success in the borough, said: "Hyndburn has a proud industrial heritage but after years of mismanagement our borough is on its knees.

"People are fed up with the corruption and political infighting. We offer the only real alternative to end wasteful spending and bring leadership to manage our town professionally.

"Our team would be independent voices. So many people will not vote because they have had no alternative until now."

Conservative group leader Cllr Marlene Haworth, up for re-elction in St Oswald's, said: "If we take control on May 5, we will keep our promises.

"We will freeze the council tax, we will protect Hyndburn's green spaces and parks, we will invest in all the borough's townships, we will invest in mental health services and will support our local businesses.

"We work as a team and will continue to work as a team to bring Hyndburn and its townships into the 21st Century."

In the current feverish political climate in Hyndburn it is difficult to predict who will win most wards and which party will win control or if there will have to be coalition deal to secure power.

What is certain that on May 5 every single vote will count in the borough.

HYNDBURN BOROUGH COUNCIL CANDIDATES:

 

Clayton-le-Moors – Peter Edwards (Conservative), Timothy O’Kane (Labour)

Huncoat – Danny Cassidy (Con), Samina Mahmood (Lab)

Immanuel – Josh Allen (Con), Joanne Dexter (Lab)

Milnshaw – Andy Clegg (Lab), Shahed Mahmood (Con), Malcolm Pritchard (Independent)

Netherton – Navid Afzal (Con), Jodi Clements (Labour & Co-operative), Ian Robinson (Reform UK)

Overton – Scott Brerton (Lab), Wayne Fitzharris (Ref), Gareth Molineux (Con)

Peel – Sarah-Kay Fitzharris (Ref), Jean Hurn (Con), Joyce Plummer (Lab)

Rishton – Bernard Dawson (Lab & Co-op), Paul Hacker (Ref), Andrew Harris (Ind), Michael Miller (Con)

Spring Hill – Allah Dad (Con), Kimberley Whitehead (Lab)

St Andrew’s – Stewart Eaves (Lab), Steven Smithson (Con)

St Oswald’s – Janet Brown (Ind), Paul Brown (Ref), Glen Harrison (Lab), Marlene Haworth (Con), Wajid Hussain (Lab), Zak Khan (Con), Richard Oakley (Ref).