St Helens Labour launches candidates for May’s crucial local elections
St Helens Labour has officially launched its candidates for May’s all-out local elections at a campaign event attended by members, councillors and senior Labour figures.
The launch brought together new candidates standing across the borough alongside the Liverpool City Region Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram, Council Leader Anthony Burns, and St Helens MPs David Baines and Marie Rimmer.
The event marks the start of Labour’s campaign for May’s elections, when every council seat will be contested. Several long-serving councillors will also be standing down at the election after years of service to local communities.
Council Leader Anthony Burns paid tribute to those retiring members and welcomed Labour’s new candidates.
Anthony Burns said:
“May’s elections are crucial for our communities. It’s our chance to decide who runs the 700 essential services the council provides – from supporting vulnerable children and older people to maintaining parks, streets and delivering regeneration projects across the borough.
“I’d like to thank our retiring councillors for their years of dedicated service to St Helens. Being elected to represent your community is a huge honour, and their contribution has made a lasting difference. We have a great team of new candidates all entrenched within their communities and looking to give their very best to fight for the residents of our great borough”
The launch follows the approval of the council’s 2026/27 budget, which protects frontline services and invests more than £150 million in regeneration, infrastructure and local communities. Additional funding secured through work with the Labour government will also allow the council to introduce several new initiatives for residents, including:
- Free school uniforms for every child in the borough
- Free town centre parking for up to three hours
- A new “Pride in Place” community grant scheme for neighbourhood projects
- Increased investment in parks and green spaces, including the return of park rangers
Anthony Burns added:
“This election is shaping up to be a clear choice between Labour and Reform. Residents must decide whether they want Nigel Farage and his millionaire backers influencing our town hall, or a Labour council that protects public services, stands up for the whole community and fights for investment in our borough.
“We will be putting forward a positive and ambitious manifesto for St Helens, and I’m proud to campaign alongside our fantastic councillors and our new generation of candidates.”
Further candidate announcements will be made in the coming weeks.