Vince Cable hits out over Shropshire council candidates shortfall

The Business Secretary said it was 'very regrettable' that more than 20,000 people in Shropshire, including one entire town, would not be able to vote in next month's local Government elections.

Speaking during a visit to Shrewsbury on Thursday, the Lib Dem cabinet member said: "It is very regrettable and it is a weakness in our democracy that we are not contesting every seat everywhere."

Six divisions in the county are going uncontested.

It means 22,000 eligible voters will not have the chance to go to the polls on May 2, including everyone in Whitchurch.

The affected divisions are Corvedale, Shawbury, St Oswald, The Meres, Whitchurch North and Whitchurch South.

All of the uncontested seats will be taken up by Conservative councillors.

The wards represent seven seats in total, with Whitchurch North having two.

Dr Cable said his party 'ought' to be fighting for every seat but had been forced to target certain areas.

"My party is targeting their resource which is what you have to do but we have got a strong group on the county council and we expect to increase it further.

"It is a pity that we are not everywhere but hopefully if we get a good result it will provide the impetus for more campaigning and more candidates next time because clearly we ought to be fighting every seat and we expect that."

Dr Cable said he hoped to see Lib Dem MPs winning seats in Shropshire in the next few years. I think there is sense in the old slogan 'where we work we win' and when you have good local councillors it does transfer into results.

"I would hope in a few years we have our MPs back in Ludlow and Shrewsbury."

Shropshire Council said it received insufficient nominations to hold contests in the six divisions.

The Electoral Reform Society called the situation a 'scandal'.