Baddeley, Milton and Norton By-Election Candidates

10 candidates for the above council vacancy in Stoke-on-Trent is not a record, but it's pretty near. There's something here for every political persuasion:

Candi Chetwynd (Labour)
Adam Colclough (Green)
John Davis (Independent)
Gary Elsby (Independent)
Tom Grocock (LibDem)
Mick Harold (UKIP)
Anthony Munday (City Independents)
Liat Norris (TUSC)
Sam Richardson (Conservatives)
Michael White (BNP)

As everyone knows, Stoke-on-Trent is the pivot around which national politics revolves (as well as the world centre for global revolution). What happens here matters. So the by-election will no doubt have the news-hungry hounds of the national dailies wetting themselves. What will get the characters flying across their monitors is not only the fact that my comrade Candi (who is the current secretary of Stoke-on-Trent Central CLP) will be beating off a challenge from the former secretary and Newsnight celebrity, Gary Elsby; but that he too will be competing for votes against his former comrade-in-arms, Adam Colclough, who's moved in to bat for the Greens.

Dare I venture a prediction? Heh, last time I tempted fate in a Stoke-on-Trent by-election it bit me badly on the backside. But Labour are campaigning extremely hard while hide nor hair has yet been seen of the other candidates. A team is out everyday pounding the streets, knocking on doors, and delivering leaflets - helped in no short measure by Candi's boundless energy and irrepressible enthusiasm. So I will confine myself to saying that Labour have a very good chance.

The by-election will be held on Thursday 14th November.