On the day that the notice of election was published Toby Perkins, Labour’s Parliamentary candidate spoke out in support of the candidates that the Labour Party has put up for election in the County Council elections in 2009.

Toby said: ” I am proud of the slate of candidates that the Labour Party has put out in Chesterfield. Unlike the Lib Dems who seem to be recycling the same tired old faces from one Council to the next, Labour has put forward a dedicated team with a proud track record of supporting their communities and defending local services.”

Our team is led by John Williams, the leader of the County Council who is standing again in Staveley South.

Dave Allen, the cabinet member for older people’ services, is a great worker for the people of Hasland and Rother ward, and the money that he has brought into the area has been amazing.

Walter Burrows, who proudly served Brimington and Derbyshire as the Chair of the council is one of the best known faces in Brimington and seems to have the energy of an eighteen year old, one of those Councillors who is at the heart of everything good about Brimington.

Sharon Blank is known throughout the County as a great local campaigner for people in St Leonards and St Helens, and has been elected on her own merits by people even when Labour have done badly.

There are also some very strong candidates in the seats that Labour doesn’t currently hold.

Mike Fanshawe has been asked to stand in St Mary’s after his work in the campaign against the incinerator plant; and former Chesterfield mayor Chris Ludlow will be Labour’s candidate in Staveley North and Whittington.

Mick Leverton is a familiar face as a local campaigner, former mayor of Chesterfield and Friend of Stand Road Park and he will be standing in Newbold ward.

Avis Murphy from Loundsley Green and Julie Fanshawe from Brampton are the excellent local choice for people in Ashgate and Hipper wards respectively.

Toby Perkins concluded; ” We have a great slate of candidates that shows the strength of Labour in Chesterfield, we will respect our opponents but we will be proud to say that right across Chesterfield and Staveley, Labour has the best local choice for people who want to be represented in Derbyshire.”