What each party in Plymouth is standing for

Issues range from the environment to housing and more

Candidates in the local elections for Plymouth City Council on 4 May are campaigning on a wide range of issues including environment, housing, health, public transport, Plymouth Airport and Armada Way.  

Almost 120 candidates are battling for 19 of the 57 seats, one third of the council. 

The Conservatives have been in control, but after a series of resignations and suspensions from the party, most recently had a 23-seat minority administration. The other parties or groups hoping to either take control or simply secure seats in the council house include are:

Change for Plymouth (C4P)
Greens
Heritage Party
Independents (as Independent Alliance)
Labour
Liberal Democrats
Reform UK
Trade Unionist & Socialist Coalition (TUSC)
But what do the parties and groups believe in and what are they offering to voters? 

CONSERVATIVES

The Conservatives are campaigning on commitments about health, education, jobs, homes, finances, the airport and the area’s Freeport.

Tories say Plymouth and South Devon Freeport will help close the gap in earnings between people in the city and other parts of the country.

Conservatives also promise to “continue work to build green homes for residents” and ensure access to good quality healthcare.

LABOUR

Plymouth Labour is promising to work with the police to “fight the rising tide of anti-social behaviour and crime.” 

Among Labour’s five pledges are also commitments to reduce the number of potholes, clampdown on fly-tipping, litter and graffiti.  

They party promises to increase house-building for social rent and affordable ownership and to invest in green jobs.

It also pledges to work with the local NHS to tackle waiting lists for GPs and dentists.  

INDEPENDENT ALLIANCE

A number of candidates are standing under the “Independent Alliance” umbrella; set up by existing councillors who left their former political groups. 

Independent Alliance candidates promise to “improve Plymouth City Centre restoring civic pride and saving the trees.”

Other commitments involve a review of public transport, upgrades to the Hoe and Waterfront, reduce Plymouth City Council management costs and “cut unnecessary red tape.”

The group also says it will help to provide “outstanding healthcare and education services” for Plymouth residents as well pledging to preserve Plymouth’s historic buildings and landmarks. 

GREEN PARTY 

Plymouth Greens say they will tackle the climate emergency and the cost-of-living crisis to create “a fairer, greener future for Plymouth where we can all afford to live, work and enjoy our Ocean City.” 

Greens add: “We will give residents more say in how our city is run to ensure a fiasco like in Armada Way never happens again.”

The candidates, standing in all 19 seats, include entrepreneurs, a housing expert, teachers and community leaders.

They argue the party does not operate a ‘whip’ system and members are free to speak up for residents and “vote for what’s best for the area they represent.” 

LIBERAL DEMOCRATS

The Lib Dems do not currently have any representatives on Plymouth City Council and are hoping to change that in May by promising a collaborative approach to local politics and to “work with other parties to fix the city’s problems.”

Lib Dem environmental pledges include a commitment to work with South West Water to clean rivers and seas and the imposition of Tree Preservation Orders to be placed on remaining Grade A & B trees in the city centre, following the mass tree-felling on Armada Way. 

Lib Dems condemn both Tory and Labour councillors for destruction of the trees in March. 

The party says it also wants Plymouth Airport reopened.

TRADE UNIONIST AND SOCIALIST COALITION (TUSC)   

TUSC candidates are standing on an anti-austerity platform and criticise both the Tories and Labour who they say have “slashed more than £100 million worth of services in the last decade.”

As with some of the other parties, TUSC condemns the tree-felling in Armada Way and suggest it highlights failures by the two largest parties to tackle the climate emergency. 

TUSC oppose all cuts and closures to council services and say they will stand with workers and support strike action to protect jobs, pay and conditions. 

The party proposes a radical policy of the mass building of eco-friendly, affordable council homes and a climate emergency plan to reduce emissions and improve the local environment. 

HERITAGE PARTY

The Heritage Party is fielding two candidates. It oppose solar farms and wind turbines on agricultural land and criticises what they call “politically correct policing.”

Candidates want more grammar schools and a ban on discussing transgender issues or sexually explicit materials in schools.

CHANGE FOR PLYMOUTH (C4P) 

Two candidates are standing under the Change for Plymouth banner. C4P is an umbrella name for independent would-be councillors who want groups and political parties to work together for the benefit of communities.

Among its pledges are promises to improve play parks, hold community meetings to discuss local issues, increase the number of dropped kerbs to help people with disabilities and work with police to reduce anti-social behaviour and crime.  

REFORM UK

Reform UK is fielding two candidates. Policies include increasing production of coal, oil, natural gas and lithium which they refer to as “our own British energy treasure.” 

The party condemns the teaching of some race and gender awareness programmes and wants to stop what it claims is “all the woke nonsense that is holding us back.”

The national party has a policy of reducing the foreign aid budget by 50 per cent.