THE fractious nature of Burnley politics will be on full show during the borough's local elections on May 2 with more parties than ever on the ballot papers.

Labour, hit by a major defection over national leader Sir Keir Starmer's handling of the Israel/Hamas conflict in November, will be seeking to rise from the ashes and regain control of what was once a party stronghold.

But the real question is what sort on 'rainbow coalition' will take over running Burnley Council when the votes are counted.

Currently the Labour rebels in the Burnley Independent Group have 11 councillors, including borough leader Cllr Afrasiab Anwar, and their coalition parters the Liberal Democrats and The Greens seven each.

The Conservatives have eight after former Burnley and Padiham Independent group member Gannow ward's Cllr Neil Mottershead joined them in February.

The remaining Burnley and Padiham Independent Mark Payne makes up the 45 councillors but is not standing for re-election.

With polls in 15 wards on May 2 and 55 candidates there is little certainty about which party will win where especially as some ballot papers will have four or five names on them.

Cllr Anwar, whose Burnley Independent Group are fielding eight candidates including housing and planning boss Lubna Khan in Bank Hall, said: "While the situation in Palestine acted as the catalyst for their departure, members had been growing increasingly disillusioned with the Labour Party's direction and felt unable to freely express their opinions on crucial matters.

"This disenchantment ultimately led them to break away.

"Freed from the constraints and pressures of party politics, they aim to be vocal advocates for residents on a range of issues, including local, national, and global concerns related to social justice.

"With a bold approach to transforming Burnley and a commitment to addressing key priorities such as cleaner and safer streets, tackling antisocial behaviour, addressing housing concerns, and advocating for issues important to residents, the Burnley Independent Group aims to reshape the local political landscape and make Burnley a place its residents can be proud of."

Burnley Constituency Conservative chairman Cllr Jamie McGowan said: "For years those running Burnley Borough Council have focused on all the wrong things.

"They’ve wasted money on silly vanity projects, concentrated on national and international affairs, brought in deeply unpopular planning policies and to top it off have raised all of our council tax to pay for the privilege.

"In this election there is an alternative to the status quo which has held our area back for decades.

"Our pitch is simple. We’re a team committed to listening to what people want and working to see it implemented."

Green Party leader Cllr Scott Cunliffe, up for re-election in Cliviger with Worsthorne, said: "In the six months that Burnley Green Party has shared power on the council it has learned a lot about how it works and the constitutional changes that are needed to make it work better.

"Being part of a coalition with Independents and the LibDems has proved our point that local political groups need to listen to each other and work together.

"We need to have a Burnley Together approach to overcoming the challenges of deprivation, inequality, climate change and anti-social behaviour.

"Burnley Greens want to change the local plan to focus on building the right houses in the right places at the right price. Labour’s current local plan is outdated and needs to be changed to focus on sustainable development, not on building unaffordable houses on green spaces.

""Residents also tell us they want better public transport and roads that are accessible and inclusive for all, not just for car users."

LibDem campaign co-ordinator Cllr Gordon Birtwistle: "The Liberal Democrat’s are standing candidates in six wards and are hoping not only to retain existing seats but to make gains in Rosehill and Daneshouse with Stoneyholme.

"Over the past 12 months the Council has been well-managed by a mix of LibDem councillors along with Independents and Greens and our influence has been crucial.

"The refurbishment of Newtown mill and the extension to Burnley College shows our commitment the town’s educational offer.

"The redevelopment of Pioneer Place with a new cinema and new food venues is evidence of our vision for a future Burnley.."

Labour leader Cllr Mark Townsend said: "Voting Labour on May 2 will end the chaos and stagnation of the coalition currently running the council which is holding Burnley back.

"We will get the focus of back to the bread and butter issues impacting residents daily lives.

"A Labour council will prioritise more cash for cleaner streets, tidier greenspaces, a safer more welcoming town centre and a crack down on anti-social behaviour and nuisance bikes.

"With partners we will ensure the most vulnerable are supported through the cost of living crisis and given the help they need to move their lives forward.

"Securing investment to increase the prosperity of residents by creating the sustainable jobs of the future, growing our local economy and providing modern energy efficient family homes will be the core mission of a Labour council."

The result will be keenly watched by all parties as they seek to assess the impact of the Gaza conflict on voters on the ground but most of all by MP Antony Higginbotham who became against all the odds in 2019 the first Conservative to represent Burnley for 109 years.