Bootle Emerges as Political Battlefield amid Falling Labour Votes

Bootle could be a real political background in the Sefton all-up elections next year as the Labour vote continues to free fall across the country, shown vividly by last night’s by election in Caerphilly- a seat they have never previously lost. 

People used to joke that they weighed rather than counted the Labour votes in Caerphilly. But there Labour were beaten by the winning Welsh Nationalists (Plaid Cymru) and came a humiliating third. Nigel Farage’s Reform who were talked up the media and pollsters were a long way behind the Welsh Nationalists in second place.

"What this shows,” says Lib Dem opposition leader in Sefton, John Pugh ," is not just that the government is unpopular but that Labour seem incapable of seeing off Farage’s Reform in what used to be their strongholds. An organised non-Labour alternative can win where Labour seemingly can’t - provided, of course, that that vote isn’t split. 

We need other people and forces to step up and offer an alternative to narrow, right wing populism. 

All my political life and throughout Sefton’s 50 year history it’s been assumed that Bootle will return around 21 Labour Councillors-  guaranteed places on the Council come rain or shine. It was ‘a given’. Only during a brief period of in the 80s when the SDP flourished were seats dropped by Labour. 

Now there are no guarantees with independents flourishing and Corbyn is back. We want though more voices for the sensible majority who need, almost regardless of party, to organise as an alternative to extremism of right and left- perhaps people who have never been in politics before. 

Data seems to show the Labour vote fatally fracturing in Farage's favour and Bootle certainly isn’t the sort of place to happily keel over before a former financial trader, or even someone like Elon Musk."

The Liberal Democrats who are currently winning more council by elections than Labour and Tories combined are recruiting new candidates for the 66 council seats needed for May 26. 

However, Cllr.Pugh points out , “ It has always disappointed me that real political competition hasn’t got established in Bootle hitherto, but no-one can doubt that it is coming now. I don’t want to see the voice of decent folk with a social conscience - some of whom may stand as independents- drowned out and conned by simplistic populists backed by billionaires. Now’s the time to step up and get in touch.