THE deputy leader of Worcester City Council is standing for one of the county council’s safest Tory seats in next month’s local elections, it has emerged.

Conservative Councillor Marc Bayliss is going to contest the St Peter’s ward, which currently has a majority of 1,057.

Victory would be another rapid rise for the politician, who used to be a Labour councillor but quit in 2011, joining the Conservative Party two months later.

His resignation was triggered over Labour’s stance on the economy and his opposition to an all-women shortlist which led to Joy Squires becoming the party’s parliamentary candidate.

Councillor John Cairns has represented St Peter’s for 16 years but will be stepping down next month.

Coun Cairns said: “I’ve decided to resign as I’ve done 16 years now and I think I know when I have done enough.

“I can say I have always enjoyed looking after the people of St Peter’s and Battenhall, I set my stall out to tackle their concerns right from the start.

“Sixteen years is a long time and it’s right for me to step down.”

If Coun Bayliss wins the seat, which comes with a basic allowance of £9,019, it will be yet another major step forward in his political career.

He said: “I will take nothing for granted. It will be a competitive election and I’m very pleased to contest it.”

Coun Bayliss was promoted to city council deputy leader and cabinet member for economic prosperity following a reshuffle last year.

Back in 2005 he tried to become a Labour MP, standing in the Wyre Forest constituency and coming third with more than 10,000 votes.

Adam Scott, a retired former town planner, is standing for Labour in the St Peter’s contest, as well as Siobhan Wanklyn for the Greens, an aspiring primary school teacher at the University of Worcester.

UKIP is also planning to field a candidate at the election on May 2.