Every second, the UK’s General Election draws closer and closer. Each political party is stepping up their hearts and minds campaign, in their bid to lead the British people.On a more regional level, hard working candidates are increasing their political activity, in the race for the prized MPs’ seats, to represent their constituencies’ people.For the equally important Local Elections, voters nationwide will also be dropping voting papers into the ballot box, for their chosen councillor.

You have probably seen the local candidates, handing out party literature out and knocking on doors. They might have even knocked on your door!

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You are now thinking who will best represent my interests, as the extra energetic local campaign, led by the local candidates, gathers speed.

Tulketh hopefuls, John Potter and Peter Rankin, talked to us about their local election campaign for the Southern Preston electoral ward.

Lib Dem man, John Potter, has been in and out local politics before he even went to university.

Mr Potter claims his campaign is well organised, but they still have to face a great challenge.

He explained: “We got the local and the general election on the same day. So we have to sync both those campaigns together. We can’t win one, without the other”.

In the political race for Tulketh’s councillor seat, he said the top two parties are the Labour Party and the Lib Dems. Its neck-to-neck, he claimed.

Working harder than the other candidates has brought him better results in the local campaign. “If am getting better results than them on the door step, then clearly they have not been doing enough work”, he said.

People are frustrated in every electoral ward, including Tulketh, with the current Labour government, he claimed.

“There needs to be a positive shift in this country to something different. That thing is fairness and that is what we campaigning for”.

He hopes to give his energy, enthusiasm and commitment to Tulketh. “It’s not only about residents coming to me, it about me going to the residents and meeting them half way. That is what I will give”.

Labour’s hopeful, Peter Rankin, stood in the 2008 Tulketh by-election. “In a fiercely fought battle I beat the Lib Dem candidate into second place by 23 votes”.

Labour has held on to Tulketh’s councillor seat, since before the 1991 local elections.

He puts Labours voting success down to the constant Labour presence in the ward. “That certainly is one of the reasons people should vote for me”.

Mr Rankin is leading a very energetic campaign, with three other Labour councillors from Tulketh.

“It is always a very tough battle in Tulketh with electors roughly equally split three ways between the three major parties”, he explained.

He will be maintaining the Labour presence in Tulketh, if he wins the local seat. “I will continue to work hard for residents all year round”.

Candidates for the local elections can be viewed here