Speldhurst voters could decide balance of power on the council

Speldhurst voters could decide balance of power on the council

The by-election is to replace Conservative councillor Julian Stanyer, who died in September after serving on the Council since 2008.

His daughter, Rowena Stanyer, is hoping to take over her father’s reins at the council after being selected to stand as his replacement by the local Conservative party.

She told the Times: “I love living in such a wonderful, beautiful community. I want to protect what is already a special place and fight to make it even better: to be a local champion for a cleaner, safer place to live.

“I will bring energy and a fresh, young resident’s perspective to our Borough council.”

Challenging her for the seat is local restauranteur Matthew Sankey who is standing for the Alliance. He said: “As the Alliance candidate I can represent everyone in the ward, where I live with my young family, no matter their political allegiances.”

Also standing for the Speldhurst seat is Labour candidate Aleksander Klimanski, who was unavailable for comment.

The ballot could see the balance of power at the Town Hall swing to the opposition.

Before Cllr Stanyer’s death, the Tories who control the Council, had 24 members and the opposition parties also 24.

While the Conservatives will remain in charge of the Council if they lose, albeit as a minority party, a by-election defeat will see their councillors outnumbered in any vote at 25-23 making it difficult to pass policy.

In the May elections in 2020, when two candidates in the ward were up for election, the Conservatives secured both Speldhurst & Bidborough seats with 43 per cent of the vote.

The Alliance came second with 27 per cent, and Labour secured just 8 per cent.

The Liberal Democrats who secured 13 per cent of the vote in 2020 are not fielding a candidate.

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