Council by-election looms as candidate stands down

Andrew Cooper is standing for Labour in Mid Cheshire

A general election candidate in Cheshire has resigned from his seat on a council, leading to a by-election being called.

Andrew Cooper, who is standing for Labour in Mid Cheshire, has stood down as councillor for Northwich Leftwich on Cheshire West and Chester Council.

A by-election will take place on 4 July.

Mr Cooper said he had stepped down from the authority - and from Northwich Town Council - to focus on the national poll.

'Deliver change'

Mr Cooper has been on the town council since 2013 and has represented Leftwich since 2019.

He was re-elected in 2023 with 59% of the vote.

He said: "I am dedicating the next six weeks to the general election campaign and I hope to speak to as many residents as possible and deliver the change Mid Cheshire badly needs."

Mid-Cheshire is a new constituency made up of parts of Eddisbury, Weaver Vale, Congleton and Tatton.

The other candidates for the seat are Helen Clawson (independent), Charles Fifield (Conservative), Mark Green (Green), Emma Guy (Reform) and Jack Price-Harbach (Liberal Democrats).