Voters 'denied democracy' with candidates choice

Voters in a Hampshire town are being offered just three choices on who to vote for in next month's borough elections.

Each ward in Havant has three candidates: a Conservative, a Reform UK candidate and one of either Labour, Liberal Democrat or Green.

The Conservatives have accused the parties of denying voters "a full and open democratic choice" by offering only one left-leaning candidate. Reform UK said it was "co-ordinated positioning to avoid scrutiny".

But the Labour leader and Liberal Democrats say the issue has been lack of good candidates willing to stand.

Havant Borough Council is currently run by a rainbow coalition, including Labour, Lib Dems, Greens and one Independent.

A third of the 36 councillors in Havant will be elected on 7 May, one for each of the 12 wards.

Labour, Liberal Democrats and Greens are standing in four wards each, but not against each other.

Liz Fairhurst, former group leader of Conservatives in Havant, said the "pre-arranged carve-up" of candidates was looking like "political convenience, not a democratic contest".

She added: "That is not healthy democracy. It is managed competition."

The leader of Reform UK in Havant, Sharon Collings, said she did not accept parties not standing against each other was "simply coincidence".

Phil Munday, current Labour leader of the council, said: "We had to focus on our efforts on the four wards in the borough where we had a chance of winning, given the struggle to get candidates".

He added that the party was fielding candidates in every Hampshire County Council seat in Havant.

Netty Shepherd, deputy leader of the council and a Green councillor, said the "toxic" nature of political debate was putting some people off standing.

"That should concern us all - it takes bravery to stand for election knowing you may face a barrage of abuse," she added.

The Liberal Democrats said they had also found it hard to recruit candidates.

"We are telling people on the doorsteps, whatever their view, that now is a great time to get involved with the creation of the new authority next year," said Philippa Gray, the group leader.

In 2027, elections will take place to the new super unitary authority - covering Havant, Portsmouth, Fareham and Gosport.

Havant Borough Council and Hampshire County Council will cease to exist in 2028.