Voters are heading to the polls in two key Cumberland Council by-elections.

By-elections have been called in Keswick and Wetheral following Marcus Campbell-Savours' parliamentary election win for Labour in Penrith and the Solway and Wetheral’s Conservative councillor, Geoff Mitchell deciding to step down.

In Wetheral, the Conservatives have selected former Carlisle City Councillor, Gareth Ellis; Labour have selected their candidate for Carlisle at the 2019 general election Ruth Alcroft; whilst the Liberal Democrats have selected Sarah Wills, wife of current Liberal councillor, Chris Wills.

The Conservatives won in Wetheral at the inaugural Cumberland Council election in 2022 with 53 per cent of the vote. Labour came in second and the Liberal Democrats were third.

Jane Hall is the Green Party candidate in Keswick, Graham King is standing for the Tories, Sally Lansbury is Labour’s candidate and John Rivers is standing for the Liberal Democrats.

Labour won in Keswick in 2022 with more than 67 per cent of the vote.

Labour’s defence in Keswick is seen as a key electoral test for the party despite winning a large majority in the House of Commons in July.

The party have lost a number of seats in council by-elections over the past month as the electorate react to the party’s decision to stop the winter fuel payment for pensioners.

Cumberland Council has reminded all residents eligible to vote in Keswick and Penrith to bring photo ID to the polling station.

Since May 2023, voters have needed to show photo ID to vote in UK parliamentary elections, and for local elections and referendums in England.

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The move has proved controversial, with some groups saying it may make voting harder for younger people and ethnic minorities, who are less likely to have a valid form of photo ID.

Forms of ID that are accepted include, passport, driving licence - including provisional license, blue badge, certain concessionary travel cards, identity card with PASS mark (Proof of Age Standards Scheme) and certain national identity cards

The Electoral Commission has called for the Government to review whether a larger number of ID documents could be valid for use in elections – such as the Jobcentre Plus Travel Discount Card and the 18+ Student Oyster photocard, in addition to the Veteran Card.