More than 30,000 candidates standing in council elections » Local Government » 24dash.com

More than 30,000 candidates are standing in next month's marathon council elections - the last of the Blair era.

The contests cover Scotland and almost all areas of England outside London.

Figures collated by the Press Association for 24dash.com show 30,297 runners for 11,715 seats.

In the shire districts - heavily dominated by Tories - they defend 3,684, Liberal Democrats 1,753, Labour 1,486, Green 30, Respect two, British National Party seven, Ukip four and independents and others 1040. Regional party Mebyon Kernow - the Sons of Cornwall - has six seats up.

In the 36 metropolitan councils, covering the major English conurbations outside the capital, Labour is defending 397, Liberal Democrats 206, Tories 181, Green six, Respect one, British National Party two, Ukip one and independents and others 32.

In the all-purpose English unitary authorities, Tories defend 541, Labour 501, Lib Dem 469, Green nine, BNP one, Ukip one and independents and others 133.

Tories lead in candidate totals in the shire districts with 6,560, followed by Lib Dems on 4,685, Labour 4,072, Green 746, Respect nine, BNP 268, Ukip 584 and independent and others 2,023. Mebyon Kernow has 23.

In the metropolitan councils Labour has the most runners, 820, with Tories on 791, Lib Dem 681, Green 335, Respect 24, BNP 354, UKIP 131 and independents and others 276.

The unitary councils' candidates line-up is Tories 1,533, Labour 1,349, Lib Dem 1,254, Green 323, Respect 10, BNP 145, Ukip 183 and independents and others 524.

In addition, in England, a total of 533 lucky candidates are already home and dry - unopposed.

They are: shire districts - Tory 353, Labour 65, Lib Dem 21, Green one and independent and others 73; metropolitan - Labour five; unitary - Tory 12, Lib Dem one and independent and others two.

In the Scottish councils, which are switching to the single transferable vote proportional representation system this year, the candidates line-up is Lab 517, SNP 434, Tory 378, Lib Dem 329, Green 101, Scottish Socialist Party 127, Solidarity 81, BNP seven, Ukip 10 and independents and others 610.

The grand total figures for council candidates are: Tory 9,262, Lib Dem 6,949, Lab 6,758, SNP 434, Green 1,505, Respect 43, BNP 774, Ukip 908, Scottish Socialist Party 127, Solidarity 81 and independent and others 3,433. Mebyon Kernow has 23.

There are also elections for mayors at Bedford, Mansfield where Labour MP Alan Meale challenges the present office holder Tony Egginton and Middlesbrough where former police chief "Robocop" Ray Mallon seeks a second term.

Copyright Press Association 2007.

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