A Salford byelection expected to cost taxpayers an extra £20k has been slammed as ‘unnecessary’ and ‘indefensible’ by local politicians.
Residents of Barton and Winton will head to the polls today to vote in a new councillor following the death of England’s longest serving councillor David Lancaster. Then, in less than two weeks time, Barton and Winton residents will head to the polls for a second time to take part in the May 7 local elections.
Usually, when a councillor position becomes vacant less than six months before a planned election, the vote is rolled into the same day to avoid extra costs. But a ‘niche rule’ from 1972 means if two electors request an earlier polling day, the wish has to be honoured by the local authority within 35 days.
In this case, the person to call the election was Lewis Croden, who is standing as a Reform UK candidate for Little Hulton, and his relative.
Croden and his relative made the request less than two weeks after Lancaster’s passing, and shortly before Croden was confirmed as a council candidate.
The move has been slammed as a ‘waste of taxpayer’s money’ by Labour sources.
A spokesperson said: “The decision by Salford Reform UK to trigger an unnecessary early by‑election in Barton & Winton was entirely indefensible.
“The financial implications of this decision are significant. A stand‑alone by‑election costs the council over £20,000, when it could have been seamlessly incorporated into the citywide elections in May. In addition, the extension of the pre‑election period has disrupted other workstreams across the authority, potentially at a cost of tens of thousands of pounds.
“That a duly nominated Salford Reform UK candidate chose to trigger this by‑election before the late Councillor David Lancaster (the longest‑serving councillor in the country, who served the people of Salford with distinction for over 60 years) had even been laid to rest demonstrates a complete lack of decorum and respect.”
Responding to these allegations, Lewis Croden hit back: “Salford has been taken for granted by Labour for years. Public money is being wasted on a loss making stadium, £668 million in high interest PFI debt, and over £100 million wasted on a failed clean air charge zone. Time we fix our roads and fund essential services.”
There are six candidates standing in the Barton and Winton byelection: Kirsty Anne Downie (IND); Antony Ian Duke (LIB DEM); Micael James Felse (REFORM); Catherine Goodyer (LAB); Jack Groom (GREEN); and Holly Ann Muldoon (CON).
