Voters set for crucial poll for town and UK

Boston/Skegness election count. EMN-171206-113221001

And while it would be a major surprise if anyone other than the Conservative’s Matt Warman was returned as MP, the balance of power in Boston Council is in the balance with two by-elections also taking place.

The health service and Brexit have dominated the final days of campaigning in the national poll as national parties make their final pitch for people’s votes.

In Boston and Skegness, Mr Warman is defending a 16,572 majority over the Labour candidate in the 2017 election.

He will be fighting against Labour’s Ben Cook this time, Hilary Jones of the Liberal Democrats, and independent candidate Peter Jones.

The decision by Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage to withdraw candidates from constituencies with sitting Tory MPs meant that Jonathan Bullock, who had been unveiled as the Brexit candidate for Boston and Skegness just days earlier, withdrew from the contest – a move that will have only enhanced Mr Warman’s chance.

The two by-elections taking place for Boston Council could though see the balance of power in the authority shifted.

The resignation of Conservative councillors Alistair Arundel and Shaun Blackman in October left vacancies on the council in Skirbeck Ward and Kirton and Frampton ward. The Conservatives currently hold 15 seats, with the Boston Independents Group on five, and other independents six, and Labour two.

Defeat for the Conservatives would mean they no longer held a working majority on the Council.

There are six candidates standing in Skirbeck.

They are: Labour’s Jackie Barton, Conservative Howard Martin, Independent Don Jenkins, Christopher Moore of the Blue Revolution Party, Sue Ransome as an independent, and Jason Stevenson for the Liberal Democrats.

In Kirton and Frampton, David Brown is standing for the Conservatives, Lorraine O’Connor as an independent, Alan Taylor for the Liberal Democrats.

The General Election count for the Boston and Skegness constituency will take place in the Peter Paine Performance Centre at Boston College tomorrow night.