THE POLITICAL landscape of Hartlepool could change once again this week as voters head to the polls to vote in the latest round of local elections.
Thursday’s vote will see 13 councillors elected, equivalent to just under one third of the council, for wards across the town with the current political formation of the authority evenly balanced among the country’s two main parties.
Hartlepool Borough Council is currently made up of 12 Conservative councillors, 11 Labour members, two Hartlepool Independent Union representatives and 10 Independents.
The council is at present led by a coalition between Conservative, Independent Union and some Independent councillors, but that could all change on Thursday when one councillor will be voted in for each of the 12 wards across the borough, apart from Rural West, where there will be two.
The Conservatives and Labour are fighting to be in with a chance of taking overall control of the council – or failing that, end up the largest party and lead a minority administration or a coalition.
While the cost of living crisis is one of the main worries among voters on the doorstep today, many feel disconnected with local and national politics and say they feel their vote won’t change anything.
Read more: Hartlepool Council election - what you need to know
On Northgate, one of the main thoroughfares in the Headland area, where people dozens were shopping or chatting over coffees there was no sign of a local election taking place on Thursday. Although three candidates are standing in the Headland and Harbour region no campaign posters, literature or banners were visible.
“I’m not even going to bother” said one 83-year-old in the Headland area of Hartlepool who did not give his name. He lamented the ongoing battles between Tory and Labour MPs; from partygate to sleaze accusations and said the ongoing war in Ukraine was more important.
Hartlepool was cast under the national spotlight last year as the town elected its first ever Conservative MP, Jill Mortimer, delivering a hammer blow to Labour's 'red wall'. The Conservatives took the seat – which had been Labour-held since it was formed in 1974 – with a majority of 6,940.
Yet even local Conservative candidates have been seen to distance themselves from the scandals in Westminster. Campaign leaflets have urged voters not to “punish” local candidates for “mistakes” made by national Government.
“This Thursday, please don’t punish local Conservatives for the mistakes made in Westminster, we are local and proud of where we live, and like you, we want the best for Hartlepool,” a message on the leaflets said.
But the local Conservative party denied local candidates were trying to distance themselves from the national party but said they were keen to remind voters that it was a local election.
Council leader since May 2019 and Hartlepool Independent Union representative, Councillor Shane Moore, is up for re-election in the Headland and Harbour ward, facing competition from Labour and Conservative candidates.
But while being praised by some for his work in regenerating the town, Cllr Moore has faced criticism from Labour for price rises and tax increases when families are feeling it the most.
On a visit to Hartlepool, Labour’s Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Jonathan Ashworth criticised the local coalition council for increasing council tax and parking charges.
“You shouldn’t have people faced with the choice of feeding their meter or their children. It doesn’t have to be like this,” he added.
Yet Prime Minister Boris Johnson countered that argument by saying “Conservatives deliver the lowest possible council tax with the best possible services".
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