UNCONTESTED parish council elections across Cumbria show the ‘serious risk’ that faces democracy according to local campaigner, Colin May.

All of the parish council elections that were scheduled for polling day on Thursday, May 2 were decided uncontested due to a lack of candidates.

Elections for Brampton Parish Council, Carlatton Parish Council, Castle Carrock Parish Council, Cumrew Parish Council, Cumwhitton Parish Council, Hayton Parish Council and Wetheral Parish Council were all uncontested, leading to some expressing concern about a lack of engagement at a lower electoral level.

People across Cumbria went to the polls on Thursday to elect a new police, fire and crime commissioner. There was a turnout of around 21 per cent.

Cumbrian parish and town councils operate at a level below unitary authority, Cumberland Council.

Colin May, who is a key part of the group ‘Putting Cumbria First’, has raised concern about local democratic process.

“The low levels of voter turnout across Cumbria in those elections that have taken place, coupled with the low levels of candidates coming forward in elections - especially in town and parish councils - shows the serious risk that faces our democracy,” said Colin.

“The fact that many voters never get the opportunity to vote in town and parish councils due to the high numbers of uncontested seats and in many cases low numbers of candidates and even - in the case of some parish councils in Cumbria - no candidates, or too few for the councils to even function, is a serious situation that needs a lot more focus not just locally but nationally.

“The last few elections across Cumbria have shown a serious lack of voter turnout. In some cases as low as 10-12 per cent of those registered to vote have bothered to put a mark on a ballot paper to vote in elections that have been contested.

“The situation is something of a chicken and egg one. If few people step up to be candidates, voters have no real choice in contested elections, and no choice if the election is uncontested, meaning that someone can be elected without a single vote cast for them.

"The growing trend of the lack of candidates in all elections and decline in numbers voting puts not just democracy at risk for everyone but locally puts at risk the grassroots local town and parish councils that work to support their local communities as volunteers.

"Very few town and parish councillors receive any payments for the role they do to support their local communities.

“How can we fix the situation? That will take everyone taking ownership of our democracy and a national conversation about what has gone wrong and how we can fix it.”