Wyre Forest District Council has a minority Conservative administration. They are only just short of an overall majority and a third of the seats are up for election on May 6.
The constituency has the same boundaries and is held by Richard Taylor, an independent MP first returned in 2001 in protest at the downgrading of Kidderminster Hospital. The Government have ignored the protest. The seat is the 82nd Conservative target.
The last time the 17 wards were fought 11 of them returned Conservatives, three Lib Dems, three Labour and one Health Concern. You would think the anti-politics mood would help Richard Taylor as an independent – especially as his expenses were pretty clean. But the Council election results don't give that indication. Furthermore for a saintly, anti politics grouping his supporters have engaged in some pretty scurrilous, negative campaigning. They also support a higher Council Tax.
The Conservative candidate Mark Garnier says the MP should not be a single issue politician. He says his business background will be helpful in attracting new jobs to the area.