BALANCE OF POWER: Labour controlled
LIKELY TO CHANGE? Realistically ‘no’ with a Labour majority of 11 and 11 wards up for grabs

Yesterday’s dramatic events which saw deputy council leader Clare Pritchard suspended from Labour as she faces a police investigation, have blown the campaign in the borough wide-open.

While her father Malcolm, who made the complaint about irregularities, could be the obvious beneficiary in Milnshaw, his UKIP colleagues will be licking their lips too.

Fielding a full slate of candidates in Hyndburn, the suggestions of Labour malpractice gives them a real chance of significant council presence, more significant than Euro-MPs in the long run.

They hope to give Tory leader Peter Britcliffe, who made sure his party did not field a candidate to interfere in the Pritchard family feud in Milnshaw, a real run for his money as well in St Andrew ward.

The Tories hope to make progress but UKIP is a real threat to them winning more council seats.

Meanwhile, the Green Party’s three candidates will hope to gain votes from Labour’s disarray. Three independents add spice to the mix.

Labour’s Ken Moss faces a fight in Rishton which Labour won in 2011 with a majority of just 112. With UKIP, Tory and Independent opponents the party press officer will have his work cut out in the current climate.

Fellow Labour candidate Colette McCormack knows she too has a close fight in Immanuel ward.