The candidates have been announced for the double by-election to take place in the Coombe Vale ward on December 15.
The by-election, which comes following the resignation of Conservative councillors Robert-John Tasker and James White, is to be hotly contested with 11 contenders from across the political spectrum putting themselves forward as candidates.
The Conservative Party have nominated two women to replace the two men standing down and will be represented by Lynne Finnerty and Julie Pickering at the by-election.
In the 2010 elections Liberal Democrat candidates were only 80 votes behind the Conservatives and they have again put forward Kamala Kugan. She will be accompanied by Rupert Nichol, who has stood for the Liberal Democrats before in the Tudor ward.
Aiming to capitalise on the difficulties experienced by the coalition government at national level, both the Labour Party and the Greens have also opted to contest the by-election. Nick Bown and Ian Parker will stand for Labour, while the Greens will be represented by Chris Walker and Dr. Tariq Shabbeer.
Father and daughter Roger Glencross and Philippa Hayward are standing for the Christian People’s Alliance. Glencross represented the Conservative Party in Wimbledon for a decade between 1968 and 1978 and both stood for election to the Kingston Council in 2010.
Michael Watson, standing for the UK Independence Party, completes the list of candidates for the by-election.
It has been reported that the by-election is due to cost taxpayers £25,000 and comes only 18 months into the current council term.
The by-election is due to take place on 15 December 2011. Voters in Coombe Vale ward must be registered by midnight on 30 November 2011 to be eligible to vote in the by-election .
For more information on the by-election contact the Kingston Council by phoning 020 8547 5026, emailing electoral.services@rbk.kingston.gov.uk or by visiting the by-election website.
