THE leaders of the Labour and Liberal Democrat groups on Swindon Borough Council have given their reactions to the news that voters will be asked to go to the polls on June 8.

While there are a number of parish elections taking place next month, 2017 is Swindon's off-year in the four year cycle of borough elections.

This means that neither party's election machine is quite at the level of readiness it might otherwise have been in an electoral year.

Neither of the main opposition parties are close to confirming candidates at this stage and the Adver understands that Labour are yet to start considering names for either seat despite rumours of an early election circulating since last year's referendum result.

One name that won't be on the list is Anne Snelgrove, who lost her South Swindon seat to Robert in 2010 and then saw him increase his majority in 2015.

She has confirmed today that she will not be putting herself forward as a prospective candidate this time around.

The leader of the Labour Group on the council, Jim Grant, said: "I welcome the Prime Minister’s decision to call a General Election.

"Labour will be offering the country an effective alternative to a government that has failed to rebuild the economy, delivered falling living standards and damaging cuts to our schools and NHS.

"In Swindon we have seen the net effect of these cuts, with Swindon education being described as “failing at all levels” by Ofsted and, with patients waiting longer to see their GP and at the hospital’s A&E. 

"In the last couple of weeks, Labour has set out policies that offer a clear and credible choice for the country and give power back to the majority of people in the country, rather than the wealthiest few who have gained the most from this Tory government.”

Vice-chair of the Swindon Liberal Democrats and the leader of the Lib Dem Group on Swindon Borough Council, Stan Pajak, has said he may consider standing himself in South Swindon.

Stan, who contested the 1997 General Election that saw a crushing victory for New Labour, said he was surprised by the announcement.

“There was some speculation that the Prime Minister would call an election for May 4 at the same time as the local elections,” he said.

“When that didn’t happen we thought she would probably leave it until 2020.

“But the latest opinion polls show she has such a lead over Labour that she clearly thought this was the right time to go.

“I was surprised but there is a logic to it.”

Stan believes that while Labour will lose out heavily, the timing could favour his party particularly in areas where there was a strong ‘remain’ vote in the referendum.

He said: “She must know she is going to lose a lot of seats to the Lib Dems due to the recent resurgence we’ve had.

“But with Labour doing so badly she clearly thinks she will do enough.”

On the possibility of his own candidacy, he added: “As to who will stand, it’s something we will have to discuss as a party.

“Even I’m thinking maybe I’ll stand – we’ve got a couple of people in mind but that’s something we will have to sort out.

“These are certainly very interesting times in politics.”