One of the most senior figures in the Conservative Party created the first major surprise of the election campaign by confirming he is to stand in a previously safe Labour seat.

Michael Bates, a former Cabinet minister and current Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party, is standing in the Framwellgate Moor division, in Durham City, where the Conservatives polled just nine per cent of the vote at the most recent election.

Mr Bates, who previously served as Paymaster General in John Major's Government, will be trying to oust sitting county councillor George Burlison, who won the seat in 2006 and previously served two terms on Brandon and Byshottles Parish Council.

The 46-year-old former MP for Langbaurgh now lives in the city and is a director of the Vardy Group, which is based in Durham.

Mr Bates explained his surprise decision to stand in the division, which has 7,500 voters and is made up of a number of villages on the outskirts of Durham, including Framwellgate Moor, Bearpark, Brasside, Witton Gilbert and Pity Me.

He said: "Its the ward where I live, where I work and I believe passionately in fielding candidates in every ward.

"It is important that we field as many candidates as we can and, like a lot of people, my view is that you shouldn't ask people to do something you're not prepared to do yourself."

Asked about his chances of winning the seat, where the Conservatives came fourth with just 246 votes in 2006, he answered wryly: "We're trying to win everywhere."

Coun Don Ross won the seat for Labour in 2001 with an overwhelming 876 majority over the Lib Dems, which was cut to 387 in 2005.

In a by-election held in June 2006, following the death of Coun Ross, George Burlison held onto the seat with a 150vote majority over Rev Crooks for the Lib Dems.

Coun Burlison, a 53-yearold social worker and former trade union official, was surprised to discover that a Tory grandee was among his election opponents.

He said: "I think having an ex-Cabinet minister standing will be interesting - I welcome healthy debate on policies rather than the election being personalised and about individuals.

"Our policies will be poles apart but it's a chance to put forward what I want to do in the constituency, then the electorate can make a decision."

Coun Burlison added: "I will even offer to buy him a pint at the Tap and Spile after the election."

The Conservatives currently hold two seats on Durham County Council, but have hopes of winning more, particularly in Sedgefield, Willington, Chester-le-Street and even Seaham, a previous Labour stronghold.

Mr Bates said the unitary authority itself would be one of the main election issues.

He said: "If you look at local government reorganisations have a history of being sold to the electorate that they will save money, but they end up costing money.

"We would want to ensure that any savings which are made actually lead to reduced Council Tax for the long-suffering taxpayers of County Durham."

The Conservatives are fielding candidates in all 11 divisions in Durham City and will contest both seats in eight.

Michael Smith, chairman of the City of Durham and Easington Conservative Association, said the party would be campaigning for lower council tax, good value policing and protecting open spaces from over development.

He added: "A new council needs new people with new ideas.The unitary council needs Conservatives because we can't leave it to Labour.

"The Lib Dems have no chance of running the new council so voters can vote Conservative with confidence."

In some parts, Labour candidates in district elections are routinely returned unopposed, but it looks as if the shake-up that is bringing us the county's new unitary council is galvanising the opposition.

The party will face a challenge in every division, but nevertheless Peter Mitchell, deputy leader of the Labour group on Durham City Council - which is controlled by the Liberal Democrats - is confident his party will emerge victorious on May 1.

While he admits that the party's fortunes have taken a knock at Government level, he believes that there are plenty of positives from its work at grassroots level.

"In terms of what's happening nationally, there is a challenging picture, but we believe the crucial thing is to talk about what Labour has done locally.

"The Audit Commission has given the Labour-controlled county council four stars, but Durham City Council, which is controlled by the Liberal Democrats, only has two stars.

"Not only that, but the county council has Beacon Status - which means it is recognised for high standards nationally - for education.

"We are able to deliver locally. The county council and the districts have shown that and we are taking the argument on to the doorstep and we believe that is borne out by fact."

Mr Mitchell thinks that Labour's track record, and the opportunity to co-ordinate services when the unitary council is formed next year, make it the natural choice for electors who want to see a brighter future and better services.

The party's controversial policy aimed at getting a balance of genders among its candidates - which has led in Easington to local officials falling out with regional party bosses - will make Labour more representative of the people it serves, he believes.

The list of Labour candidates is a mix of county and district stalwarts - including the likes of Easington Council's current leader Alan Napier - and newcomers, many of whom, Mr Mitchell said, had been active in their communities and local organisations.

The party currently has five seats on Durham County Council, all of them clustered around Durham City where the Lib Dems have run the city council since 2003.

However, senior party figures believe they will be able to widen their representation this time around.

Coun Carol Woods, Lib Dem deputy leader on Durham City Council and one of the party's candidates in Sherburn, said: "We will be fielding more than 90 candidates, including areas where we have never fielded Liberal Democrats before.

"We have candidates in places like Easington, where Labour councillors have been returned in the past without any opposition - we will be offering an opposition across the county.

"People across the county know that we have done a really good job in running the city council and the difference we have made to Durham.

"I think we will make a lot of headway this time around."

Coun Woods said that a combination of national and local factors would work in the party's favour during the campaign.

She added: "So many people did not want this authority and we believe they will vote Lib Dem to make sure they have people elected who will listen to them.

"Labour nationally is at its lowest point for 25 years and the Labour-dominated county council hasn't listened to a word anybody in this county has said - that's why its all up for grabs.

"The county council is a dinosaur organisation - it has been run by Labour for so long that it hasn't moved forward.

"If we have to have this giant council, we have got to have an administration that really believes in making a difference, locally and on the ground.

"I believe Labour hasn't done that and I don't think they know how to do that."

Coun Fraser Reynolds, leader of Durham City Council for the last five years, is to contest the seat of Esh in Derwentside.