‘There are fears over turnout, but the real battle in Hull is between the Lib Dems and Labour’
ELECTION COUNTDOWN: Voters in Hull will elect new members of Hull City Council on May 4
Now & Then, a column by Angus Young
Local Elections 2023: A preview
Voters in Hull go to the polls on May 4 in the annual city council elections with two big questions still waiting to be answered.
First, how many people will actually cast their vote?
Given new rules requiring voters to provide photographic proof of ID for the first time before receiving their ballot paper, it's widely feared that many unaware of the changes could end up being turned away from polling stations or simply not bother to vote at all.
DRAMA: Election night at the Guildhall in 2022
The government’s repeated claims that ID checks will counter voter fraud have been roundly criticised, not least because of the lack of any real evidence to show it’s ever been a problem in the past.
In a place like Hull where voter turnout rates are historically low, it could see them plunge even lower than usual. Some believe there’s a real and worrying prospect of them dipping under ten per cent in some wards.
The second question is whether the Liberal Democrats will be able to keep political control at the Guildhall, having ousted Labour from power 12 months ago.
VICTORY: Hull’s Liberal Democrats celebrate their landmark win last year
Since winning, the Lib Dems have delivered on their pre-election pledge to listen to the community. However, Labour’s current argument on the doorstep is that little has actually been done by the new-look administration since then apart from listening.
The Lib Dems go into the contest with 29 seats to Labour’s 27. The one currently non-aligned councillor Ryan Langley is not standing for re-election in Derringham ward and the outcome there could well set the template for elsewhere.
He was previously the deputy leader of the Lib Dems before resigning two years ago after reportedly unsuccessfully standing against group leader Mike Ross. Derringham itself has been a Lib Dem stronghold in recent years but a victory for either the Lib Dems or Labour here would be counted as a gained seat.
THUMBS UP: Hull Labour group leader Daren Hale with something to cheer on an otherwise disappointing night for the party in 2022
To overhaul the Lib Dems, Labour need to start taking Lib Dem-held seats but it’s a task that has largely eluded them lately. Instead, it’s been a case of the Lib Dems picking off traditional Labour seats in wards such as North Carr and Longhill.
If that trend continues, the Lib Dems could well strengthen their grip of power.
Elsewhere, there is a sprinkling of Green candidates, a scattering of Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition challengers and a lone Reform UK representative. The Conservatives are fielding a full slate of candidates but with no seats currently on the council and with lone veteran councillor John Fareham defeated last year, the only realistic battle will be between the Lib Dems and Labour.
Voting will take place in 19 of the city’s 21 wards with no scheduled elections in Bricknell and University wards. Only one seat in the wards involved will be contested with the exception being the Central ward where two will be up for grabs following the recent resignation of Labour’s Aneesa Akbar.
The polls will close at 10pm on May 4 and we should know the overall result by around 2am the following morning.
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