THE local elections are looming as the political temperature rises.

They do not always capture the national media attention but this years’ locals are likely to be big news.

The results are often seen as a health check on national government even when local councillors work independently for their community rather than follow the Westminster agenda. This often means parties are rewarded or punished not for what they are delivering locally but what leaders are doing nationally.

The tension, amongst councillors and candidates, across the Wigan borough are heightened this year because we are having ‘all out’ elections. Each ward has three councillors and they are normally elected one after the other over three years after which we have a year’s break. Due to a local government boundary review, all 75 seats are up for election at the same time.

I do not think that there is an expectation of a political earthquake locally but that does not settle the nerves as we head into the election. Quirks and random events can always happen and are far more likely when the ballot paper has three times as many candidates.

There are more independent candidates standing than there has for many years and they can be remarkably effective at championing the cause of their residents. I know this because of the hard work that Atherton’s independent councillors have put in from education to housing. There are always rivalries but we will work together after the electoral dust has settled.

In fact, we need more local campaigning on delivering more places as so many schools across the borough are over capacity. Thirty-one schools are in this category and, when Wigan Council are responsible for building so many more houses in the local area they need to do more to deliver more funding for the local schools.

Policing is always a hot topic and it is great to see our Chief of Police, Stephen Watson, show the leadership we need. I know that Labour constantly complain about policing but they usually ignore that fact the Police and Crime Commissioner is one of their own.

I know that the Chief has focussed on arresting criminals and has reopened custody suites that the Mayor allowed the last Chief to close. This focus is cutting crime and we can see that in the figures. Over the last year, GMP has solved two-thirds more burglaries than the previous year and there has been an increase of well over a third being arrested for burglary. This has led to a cut of 688 burglaries.

Just as in policing, getting the right political leadership means that the whole team works better and delivers results.

Getting the right politicians can be transformative for delivering local services so make your vote count.