Several independent candidates have announced they will stand for election in Kirkby as part of the upcoming Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council elections, which are taking place on Thursday 7 May 2026.
The elections will see 15 of the 45 seats on the council up for contention across the borough. In Kirkby, which is covered by four electoral wards – Cherryfield, Northwood, Shevington, and Whitefield – local voters will have the opportunity to choose their representatives from a range of candidates, including those running without party affiliations.
Independent candidates currently represent a small portion of the council, which has been under Labour control since 1974. Recent election cycles have seen a shift in local representation, particularly in Whitefield Ward. Brian Johns, the incumbent independent councillor for Whitefield, was elected in a March 2024 by-election, while Steve Smith, a former firefighter, secured his seat in the same ward during the May 2024 elections.
Other individuals noted for their involvement in the upcoming contest include Jen Bamber, who previously stood as an independent candidate in Shevington Ward in 2022, and Neill Dunne, who campaigned as a Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) candidate in Northwood Ward in 2024 and is now standing as an independent. These candidates are focusing their platforms on significant local concerns, including environmental issues such as an illegal 30,000-tonne waste dump and the potential impact of building more than 800 houses on contaminated land.
These environmental matters remain a high priority for residents, as Kirkby already faces some of the highest rates of respiratory health issues and chest complaints in the country. Voters are encouraged to review the candidates in their respective wards ahead of the May polls to understand how each person intends to address these community concerns.
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