FOR starters, this is the only ward which has a Lib Dem candidate. So well done to Kevin Mulroue.
This should be a safe Labour seat. They won by 254 votes last year but that was a remarkable decline from 599 in 2012.
Needless to say, the nearest rivals were and are UKIP. UKIP believe they can still take this seat but again, it may be a ward in which they flatter to deceive. They may do well to better their 34% share of the vote.
The Labour candidate is Jane Pothercary. If she gets in, the former Thurrock Council officer could be a real asset to their team and add, keenly needed fresh blood to their back bench and eventually, their cabinet.
The UKIP candidate is local teenager Dan Jukes. When we say local, we actually mean, from Bedford. You can’t fault Dan for his zeal, even if at times it is a bit haywire.
The Conservative candidate is Jack Barnes. You know, the bloke with the red hat and the megaphone. Some might say that he may want to finish his own personal campaign before he puts himself forward to champion the needs of 8,000 constituents but hey ho, that is democracy.
Prediction…Lab hold
Grays Riverside
BARNES Jack, Conservative
JUKES Dan, UKIP
MULROUE Kevin Barry, Liberal Democrat
POTHECARY Jane Catherine, Labour
