(19 May 2026, 10:29 pm)Adrian wrote I think it's always been a done thing, in that parties will put up paper candidates to contest every ward.
Labour would always put up a whole compliment in Durham, and in some unachievable wards (back before 2024, lol), they'd literally stand any local member to fill a gap.
Tories and Lib Dems did the same, in every ward, though not always a whole compliment.
I guess what's changed lately is that everything appears up for grabs.
Almost everything! Reform didn’t stand candidates for all 3 seats in my ward, last year. Either they couldn’t find enough to match the one they had or they knew it was pointless.
I hear they’re advertising for someone to oversee their vetting process
