THE Barrow and Furness Labour Party has chosen its candidates for the Cumbria County Council elections that will be held on May 4.

The party’s executive committee interviewed aspirants before selecting 15 contenders who will be standing in divisions throughout the area.

Candidates assembled with Labour MP for Barrow and Furness John Woodcock outside the council’s Nan Tait Centre in Barrow to launch their campaign.

Barrow and Furness Constituency Labour Party chairman Terry McSorley said: “We have excellent candidates in all divisions and Labour certainly has the most positive and constructive policies to promote the interests of the area.

“Protecting services and helping create employment opportunities are priorities we will be focusing on.

“The absolute truth is that there is no such thing as a safe seat for any party these days and so we will be taking nothing for granted and will be fighting hard for every vote in every division.”

Dalton North councillor and cabinet member Barry Doughty said: “Labour councillors will always work hard for the people they represent and we have tried very hard to maintain services despite having to grapple with the most severe government cuts in living memory.”

Walney South councillor Frank Cassidy said: “Residents living in communities across Furness will need strong voices to speak up for them on Cumbria County Council as yet more government cuts loom.

“A Labour council would seek to mitigate the worst effects of Conservative budget reductions that are threatening even basic local services.

“During this campaign we will be taking our message to the doorsteps of Furness and explaining why it is in people’s interests to vote Labour.”

The full list of Labour candidates is as follows: Dalton North (Barry Doughty), Dalton South (Ernie Wilson), Hawcoat (Connor Lambton), Hindpool (Anne Burns), Old Barrow (Helen Wall), Ormsgill (Bill McEwan), Parkside (John Murphy), Risedale (Kevin Hamilton), Roosecote (Fred Chatfield), Walney North (Mel Worth), Walney South (Frank Cassidy), Ulverston East (Mark Wilson), Ulverston West (Dave Webster), High Furness (Gerry Scott), Low Furness (Shirley-Anne Wilson).

The full list of candidates in the county council elections is due to be published at 4pm on April 5.