Can anyone challenge Labour in key Greater Manchester borough at this year's local elections?

There are few punters who would bet on the control of Trafford council switching from Labour at Thursday’s (May 2) local elections. One new councillor - or one already sitting councillor - will be elected in each of the authority’s 21 wards.

Currently, 41 out of Trafford’s total of 63 councillors are Labour, with the Conservatives making up the largest opposition with 10 and the Liberal Democrats and Greens each holding six seats. That means Labour has a comfortable 19-seat majority.

What’s slightly different this time is that the Reform UK party is contesting one-third (or seven) of the seats. That could be bad news for the Conservatives, with Reform tending to be the home of disaffected Tory voters.

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So what are the contenders saying to help the public decide where to place their cross on the ballot paper? As the council marks 50 years since it became one of the Greater Manchester metropolitan authorities, Labour are saying there’s a lot to celebrate ‘from attracting national venues like the Imperial War Museum North, to working partnership with big sporting arenas [like Manchester United’s Old Trafford stadium]’.

They are also trumpeting the building of thousands of new homes in Trafford, and investing millions into the regeneration of the borough’s town centres. Party leaders also point to the ‘revitalising’ of Trafford’s leisure services and the transformation of its biggest park [Longford] and partnerships with schools, colleges and the university, UA92.

Their statement raeds: “Trafford Labour will continue to celebrate, support and value our diverse communities. We aim to do this by giving every child the best start; ensuring people live healthy and independent lives, providing a thriving economy and homes for all; addressing our climate crisis and ensuring culture, sport and heritage are accessible to everyone.”

Labour also take a pop at successive Conservative-led governments by saying that since 2010 they have starved Trafford council of around £288m. The statement adds: “The financial challenge faced by councils across the country remains critical. Trafford Labour will always put sound financial management at the centre of everything we do while continuing to campaign for fairer funding for our residents.”

Trafford Conservatives say they believe residents want the council to focus on local issues directly affecting them. Their statement says: “Potholes are in need of repair, and this should be a prime focus of the council, as it should with all its basic provisions.”

Alluding to the Greater Manchester strategic development plan for the next 17 years - Places for Everyone (PfE) - they say: “It is also clear that green spaces and the limited amount of green belt in the borough is deeply treasured by residents, but this current administration is failing to protect green spaces in Trafford.

“Trafford council have committed to the PfE which plans to build on green belt land.” The Conservatives say they have been ‘relentless’ in their their campaign to see Altrincham Minor Injuries Unit reopened - ‘a treasured NHS service that was well utilised by residents, but sadly Trafford council voted against our motion to prioritise the reopening the unit’.

Their statement adds: “Trafford Council claims to be ‘underfunded’ whilst also having raised council tax by 32pc in the last 6 years. Additionally, the money is not spent wisely with £500,000 spent on cycle lanes and a 40pc pay-rise for councillors.”

The Liberal Democrats say they are providing a strong alternative to Labour that people are looking for after the ‘collapse’ of the Conservatives. Their statement says: “We are focused on getting the basics right for our local services. People are tired of blocked drains, crumbling roads and forgotten parks and green spaces since the Tories gave away our services in a bad contract [with infrastructure contractor Amey] 'they now admit they never should have signed'.

“It’s only the Liberal Democrats who put forward common-sense policies that will improve the deal Trafford residents get from our service providers.

“We stand up for our local health services. While the Conservatives try to scare people about the future of Altrincham Hospital and Labour politicians bury their heads in the sand, only the Liberal Democrats have called for the opening of an urgent treatment centre. We will continue to fight for a 24-hour pharmacy in south Trafford and we will stand up for residents who are seeing their local GPs and dentists close down.”

The Greens are also fielding candidates right across the borough. Their statement says: “Our experienced Green Party councillors work hard all year round. We get things done for residents, businesses and schools. We campaign on the issues that matter to people.”

Key issues they’re focusing on are safer roads - campaigning for 20mph limits around schools and homes; better services, ‘from vital social care to fixing the roads’. “We campaign for warmer, energy efficient homes and more social housing to tackle the cost of living crisis,” their statement continues.

“We need to stop dumping sewage in our rivers, clean our dirty air, and protect our green spaces. Our towns and villages need to be greener, attractive and resilient to climate change.

“We need better provision for disabled people and investment in public toilets.” The Greens are also campaigning for more school places for ‘all the children that need them’.

Reform UK say they're ‘passionate’ about their local communities and will tackle residents concerns ‘on low traffic neighbourhoods in Urmston and a proposed mosque in Timperley’. Their statement says they want a cap the annual council tax increase at UK inflation rate, up to a maximum of 4.99 per cent and they want a ‘no’ to Labour’s plan for VAT on independent school fees.

“We want free town-centre car parking, zero business rates for independent shops to stimulate the high street,” their statement says. “Protect Carrington Moss and Timperley Wedge from any development and cancel any plans for a GM Clean Air Zone MKII, including removal of the ANPR cameras.”

They also want an improvement in GP services and adult social care across the borough.