The fewest number of candidates for four years

The candidates for the seventeen wards in the Borough of Southend-on-Sea have been announced. The table below shows the number of candidates in each ward, both for this year and for recent years.

	2018	2016	2015	2014	2012	2011	2010	2008	2007	2006	2004	2003
Belfairs	6	5	6	4	6	4	5	5	4	3	3	3
Blenheim Park	5	6	5	5	5	4	5	4	5	4	3	3
Chalkwell	4	6	5	5	5	4	7	5	5	3	4	4
Eastwood Park	3	5	4	4	4	4	6	4	3	3	3	3
Kursaal	3	5	5	5	5	5	7	4	4	4	5	5
Leigh	4	5	4	3	3	4	4	4	3	3	3	3
Milton	5	6	5	5	5	4	6	4	6	5	3	3
Prittlewell	5	6	5	4	4	4	6	5	4	4	4	4
Shoeburyness	4	7	5	4	4	4	7	5	5	7	3	3
Southchurch	5	6	6	4	7	6	6	5	5	5	4	4
St Laurence	4	6	5	4	5	5	4	4	4	2	4	4
St Luke’s	6	6	7	5	5	7	7	7	5	5	4	4
Thorpe	4	6	5	4	4	4	6	5	4	4	3	3
Victoria	3	5	5	5	6	4	5	5	4	4	3	3
West Leigh	4	6	5	4	4	4	6	4	4	6	4	4
West Shoebury	4	6	4	4	5	4	6	4	5	6	3	3
Westborough	5	7	6	4	6	5	7	6	4	4	4	4
	74	99	87	73	83	76	100	80	74	72	60	60

This year sees the fewest number of candidates for four years, which could be down to any number of reasons, but is most likely due to the imploding and lack of organisation amongst the minor parties.

Recent years have seen a proliferation of candidates, with seven names on a ballot not unusual any more. Gone, for the moment at least, are the days when it was just a choice between the three main parties.

Both UKIP and the Independents (the non-party party) has had an impact in recent years, although UKIP’s self-destruction was farcical, if not outright comedic.

Without a proportional voting system the minor parties are nought but a distraction, often being more helpful in splitting the vote than in actually making any significant impact. Last year’s General Election saw the resuscitation of binary politics, and it feels like this trend has carried over into this year. I do not expect any gains by the minor parties, and losses are a strong possibility.

Whatever, there are seventeen fascinating battles ahead, and I wish all candidates well.