Higham Ferrers election postponed as candidate dies
Liberal Democrat John Ratcliffe has sadly died
By Sarah Ward
The Higham Ferrers ward election will not take place tomorrow after one of the candidates has died.
John Ratcliffe, who was standing for the Liberal Democrats, sadly died yesterday and the North Northamptonshire Council has issued a statement this afternoon to say the election in the ward he was standing in will not go ahead. It has been postponed and will be rearranged.
The Liberal Democrat lead organiser in North Northants Chris Stanbra said:
“John was a lovely man and a lifelong Liberal.”
Adele Wylie, returning officer for North Northamptonshire Council said:
“We send our sincere condolences to John’s family and our thoughts are with them at this sad time.
“By law, we must now postpone the election for Higham Ferrers ward on North Northamptonshire Council. The other candidates and electors have been made aware.”
The authority says all other polls on 1 May across North Northamptonshire will go ahead as planned including the election for Higham Ferrers Town Council, Higham Ferrers Chichele Ward and parish council election for Chelveston-cum-Caldecott.
An election must take place by 23 June and further details about a new date for the election will be announced in the coming days.
The council says new poll cards will be sent to all affected voters once the date is set and any already returned postal votes for the North Northamptonshire Council Higham Ferrers Ward will not be counted. Postal voters in this area will receive a new postal vote once the election has been re-arranged.
The town council elections for the Higham Ferrers Chichele ward and the parish of Chelveston-cum-Caldecott will be going ahead as planned and the below polling stations will be open for voting:
Chelveston Village Hall, Caldecott Road, Chelveston
Hope Methodist Church, 9 High Street, Higham Ferrers
All other polling stations in the Higham Ferrers area will be closed.
This will probably be our last post before Friday. NN Journal will be at both election counts to bring you the results. We will also be updating our posts throughout the day. Paying subscribers will receive extra posts so sign up here to receive them