Local Council elections: Conservative Party on course to suffer heavy losses, say reports

UPDATE 5/5/2023: The Conservative Party are on course to suffer heavy losses at the local elections as Labour and the Liberal Democrats both made gains. Results for the council elections will be updated here soon. Click Here for Updates

By A Staff Reporter

LONDON May 4: Local council elections are set to be held in the UK on May 5, 2023. These will include district councils, unitary authorities, and directly-elected mayors in England, and all local councils in Northern Ireland.

The polls this year is witnessing an increased number of Malayalee candidates. Even though Malayalee representatives in local elections are not that rare, the interesting fact is that the figures have increased tremendously this year.

Voters will need to show photo ID at polling stations before they can receive their ballot paper. This is a new requirement introduced by the UK Government that comes into effect for the first time at these local elections.

Accepted forms of ID include a UK, European Economic Area (EEA) or Commonwealth passport; a UK or EEA drivers’ licence; some concessionary travel passes, such as an older person’s bus pass or an Oyster 60+ card; and the new free Voter Authority Certificate. Voters will be able to use expired ID if they are still recognisable from the photo.

Some of the Malayalee candidates contesting the elections today are:

Varghese John, known as Sunny is running to represent Conservatives in the upcoming Woking Borough Council elections for the ward of Mount Hermon. Sunny and family have lived in the Woking area for the past 20 years. He works in customer service for a large supermarket in Woking, and have done so for 20 years. His wife works as an oncology research nurse in an NHS hospital.

Shaji Thomas is a Conservative and Unionist Party candidate in Bexhill Sackville in the Rother local election. Shaji is a resident of Bexhill in East Sussex and is originally from Erumely
near Ranny in Kerala.

Manoj Pillai who is former UUKMA president, will contest as a Tory candidate in the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) council elections to be held on 4 May 2023. Manoj will contest for the Canford Heath ward of Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole Council which is a Liberal Democrats stronghold. Manoj moved to Canford Heath in 2016 where his wife works as a registered Nurse with Poole Hospital NHS Trust.

Gregory Pius, a businessman in the UK, has been selected by the Conservative Party to stand as candidate for the Stantonbury ward at the local elections to Milton Keynes City Council on 4th May. Gregory’s ward covers Bancroft, Bradville, Great Linford, Linford Wood, Oakridge Park and Neath Hill. Gray, a native of Kollam from Kerala, lived in Southall since his arrival in 1975 before moving to Milton Keynes in 1987. A loyal resident of Milton Keynes for more than 36 years, Gregory is determined to make the Stantonbury ward and the city a better place for everybody to live, work and grow a family.

Arun Matthew is a Conservative and Unionist Party candidate in Aylesham, Eythorne & Shepherdswell in the Dover local election. Arun Mathew, who came to the UK just a couple of years ago has a keen interest in cricket and football. If elected, he intends to Arun lives in Deal in Kent with his wife and two children.

Sunil Kumar is contesting as a Conservative candidate from the Oakdale ward of Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole (BCP) Council. Sunil’s wife Nisha, has been working at Poole NHS trust and they have got two children both born in Poole.

Bibin Baby is contesting as Labour and Cooperative Party candidate for Sprowston. Bibin Baby (Bibin Kuzhiveli) is contesting in both Town and District Councils

Lijo John is one of the three Conservative candidates for the Urmston ward in the 2023 local elections

Trafford Council has 10 Malayalee candidates for the local election.