Candidates announced for Plymouth by-election

Two seats vacant after Tory councillors resign

Plymouth’s Independent Alliance has announced which candidates they will be backing for two by-elections, set to take place on 12 January.

Former Radio Plymouth presenter Gavin Marshall will stand as an independent candidate in Moor View ward and “Plympton Podcast” founder and former Stannator, Andrew Hill, will fight the Plympton Chaddlewood ward. 

The elections were called after former councillor for Moor View, Shannon Burden, along with her husband Dan Collins in Chaddlewood, stepped down last month following concerns they were living in Gloucestershire and unable to serve residents in their wards. 

Both councillors were members of the Conservative group before resigning.

Mr Marshall explained his reasons for standing as an independent candidate in Moor View.

“I really struggle with the party political fighting, hence why I feel the time is right to stand as an independent candidate,” he said. “Locally, and nationally, the party system isn’t working. Being independent, I wouldn’t have to take any party line. I will take my constituent’s line.” 

Mr Hill said he felt it was important, as a councillor, to live in the community.

“Some roles might lend themselves to hot-desking with a laptop from anywhere in the world, but being a local councillor is not one of them,” he said.

“I’ve come forward to give residents the choice of a local voice and someone with an established record of community work in the area. 

“I’ve taken part in the questions from the public section of council meetings in the past, so people know I have the determination to get answers to issues.”

If elected, the two independents would join Plymouth’s Independent Alliance councillors, Nick Kelly, Chaz Singh and Terri Beer in the council chamber. 

The full list of candidates standing in the Moor View by-election:  

HARTKOPF, Frank – Green

JOHNSON, Andrea Irene – Conservative

MACKENZIE, Colin Alexander – Liberal Democrats

MARSHALL, Gavin John – Independent

NOBLE, Will – Labour

WHITE, Andrew James – Trade Unionist & Socialist Coalition 

The candidates standing in Plympton Chaddlewood are:

DAVY, Benjamin John – Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition

GILLBARD, Mike – Liberal Democrat

GILMOUR, Lindsay – Labour

HILL, Andrew Michael – Independent

MCLAY, Lauren Elizabeth – Green

WARD, Ashley John – Conservative