ALL the candidates in the Warrington Borough Council election have now been confirmed – with Labour bidding to retain control.

Every seat at the Town Hall will be up for grabs on Thursday, May 2.

Results are expected to be announced on Saturday, May 4.

The council is composed of 58 councillors – Labour currently holds power with 36 councillors.

Here are five things we noticed from the election candidates list.

Almost 140 candidates

There will be a total of 137 candidates contesting the election for seats on the borough council.

There will be many interesting political battles across the town, in what promises to be an exciting election.

Labour lost a number of big names despite retaining control of the borough council in 2021, which saw the Tories become the biggest opposition group.

Wards to watch

The Penketh and Cuerdley ward is expected to be one of the most interesting wards to watch in the election.

There are a total of 12 candidates, with three councillors to be elected in the ward.

The candidates comprise five independents, three Labour, three Conservative, one Liberal Democrat.

Meanwhile, elsewhere in the town, the Conservatives are set to face a significant battle to hold onto their three seats in the Appleton ward.

The Liberal Democrats will be confident of their hopes in the ward when residents go to the polls next month.

Former cabinet member

Among the Labour politicians who lost their seats in 2021 was Matt Smith.

But he is bidding to make a return to the council and will be running in Culcheth, Glazebury and Croft, where he was formerly a councillor.

During his previous term on the council, he held the role of cabinet member for children’s services.

Reform UK

Reform UK will be hoping to secure a presence at the Town Hall in the election.

There are a total of five Reform UK candidates who will be contesting the election.

This includes a familiar face – Trevor Nicholls, who will be standing in Orford.

Mr Nicholls stood for UKIP in Warrington North in the 2015 General Election – and he is set to stand for Reform UK in the next General Election after being confirmed as the party’s prospective parliamentary candidate for the seat.

The date for the next General Election is yet to be confirmed.

Poulton North and Poulton South

Labour will be hoping for a dominant performance in Poulton North and Poulton South.

Three councillors are to be elected in Poulton North, with four candidates putting their name forward – three Labour and one Conservative.

Meanwhile, two councillors are to be elected in Poulton South, with three candidates contesting the election – two Labour and one Conservative.