COPELAND candidates standing for Labour in the May elections have been announced.

Copeland Labour’s list of candidates for the new Cumberland Council are: Gillian Troughton for Howgate, Joseph Ghayouba for Bransty, Jeanette Forster for Hillcrest and Hensingham, Mike Hawkins for Mirehouse, Emma Williamson for Kells and Sandwith.

The candidate list also includes: Graham Minshaw, standing for Egremont North; Sam Pollen standing for Egremont South, James Dickaty for Gosforth, Bob Kelly for Millom and Ann Todd for Millom without.

The election result on May 5 will set the tone in the region’s local government for the next five years.

Successful candidates will form a Shadow Authority which will work alongside the existing councils for one year until the new Cumberland Council fully takes over on vesting day, April 1.

After vesting day, Cumberland Council will govern Carlisle, Allerdale and Copeland, as the single unitary authority and the existing county and district councils will be abolished.

Elections to the unitary authority will be every four years. With the addition of the shadow year, councillors elected in May will serve for five years.

Copeland Conservative Association has already announced its list of candidates for the Cumberland Council.