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Jan 2023

Last Updated: 09/01/2023

Politics

Green Party steps aside for upcoming Masham by-election

by Thomas Barrett Local Democracy Reporter

| 09 Jan, 2023

(Lef) Felicity Cunliffe-Lister, Liberal Democrat candidates, and Brooke Hull, Conservative candidate.

The Green Party will not stand in the crucial Masham and Fountains by-election to give the Liberal Democrats a better chance of beating the Conservatives.

The North Yorkshire County Council by-election will take place on February 9 and is being held following the death of long-serving Conservative councillor Margaret Atkinson.

The Harrogate and District Green Party said it had selected a “superb local candidate” to fight the seat, but following discussions with the Lib Dems it will instead step aside and “allow the progressive vote to go forward under one ticket”.

The winning councillor will sit on the new North Yorkshire Council from April 1 and the result will be significant for the balance of power in Northallerton.

With the seat currently vacant, the Conservatives have control of the council with 46 councillors but they have a slender majority over opposition party councillors and independents.

A Liberal Democrat victory would reduce the Tories’ majority to just two.

A Green Party spokesperson said due to the first-past-the-post voting system, putting forward a candidate would give the Conservatives a greater chance of winning.

The spokesperson said:

“It is our view that the Conservative Party is causing irreparable damage both locally and nationally, and the current imperative is to weaken their position as much as possible.

“Consequently, we have decided to engage in grown up politics and to stand to one side to allow the Liberal Democrats a clear run to topple the Conservatives. This on the grounds that in this division, we believe the Liberal Democrats are in the best position to achieve this goal.

“The Harrogate and District Green Party reaffirms its commitment to serving our local communities as best we can and furthering the cause of the environment at all times. As ever, we call upon all progressives parties to do likewise, and return this nation to the people."

Kirkby Malzeard councillor Margaret Atkinson dies

Swinton estate owner to stand against Tories in key Masham by-election

Conservatives select candidate for crucial Masham and Fountains by-election

Brooke Hull will be the candidate for the Conservative Party and Felicity Cunliffe-Lister will stand for the Liberal Democrats.

Ms Hull is campaign manager for the Skipton and Ripon Conservative Party and is the wife of Conservative councillor for Washburn and Birstwith division, Nathan Hull.

Felicity Cunliffe-Lister is a former lawyer and is the owner of the Swinton Estate.

When the seat was last contested in May 2022, the Cllr Atkinson was elected with 1,076 votes.

Ms Cunliffe-Lister stood as an independent and came second with 738 votes. Liberal Democrat candidate Judith Hooper came third with 620 votes.

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Green Party steps aside for upcoming Masham by-election

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