Worcester election 2023: the close up on the Cathedral ward

The three-councillor ward has tipped from a Conservative to Labour majority in recent years and is already home to Labour leader Lynn Denham and fellow stalwart Jabba Riaz and the party will be hoping to grab the third and final seat before most of the ward is redrawn and renamed next year.

In an eyebrow-raising move, Tory veteran Allah Ditta will not be contesting his Cathedral seat and instead will be looking to win in the neighbouring Nunnery ward where he already holds a county council seat.

This leaves a space open for Haris Saleem, who is involved with Worcester Muslim Welfare Association and Worcester Taxi Assocation, to take on the mantle for the Conservatives and will be up against Labour’s Atif Sadiq in a contest that has traditionally seen the two parties battle it out for victory.

Jabba Riaz was re-elected by a landslide last year, but the contest was much closer in 2021 when Lynn Denham outfought Tory newcomer Shafaz Ditta to win by a nervy 40 votes two years after his father Allah Ditta was successful with a very tight victory over Labour by just 69 votes.

Mark Fenton, who stood in the Nunnery ward and finished in last place in 2022, will be fighting for the Lib Dems where the party finished a very distant fourth last year.

Jon Bodenham for the Greens and Archie Harrison for the Trade Union and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) both return having finished third and fifth respectively in 2022.

Covering the heart of the city means any potential candidate will have a long list of issues to deal with, no doubt exacerbated by the cost-of-living crisis.

Not only that but the High Street and small businesses, taxis, parking, congestion, pollution, late-night licensing, crime and anti-social behaviour as well as homelessness have always been and will continue to remain hot topics for those looking to represent the ward.

The city’s biggest ward, which covers the city centre all the way to Diglis, means the Cathedral seat is an important one for any party looking to hold the reins in the Guildhall and victory here, no matter how tight, would give an indication on which party could be in control come May.

JON BODENHAM (GREEN)

“With experience as a councillor for a council with a gold level for effectiveness, I would now like to serve Worcester.

“Since moving to Worcester, I have become even more passionate about the environment, changed my lifestyle, halved my carbon footprint and gone electric with car and bike.

“Cathedral ward encompasses the heart of the city and would benefit from the introduction of Park and Ride on the outskirts of the city to encourage more walking and cycling.

“Having had three careers, in grocery manufacturing and marketing, financial services, and charity fundraising, I feel strongly about encouraging local businesses, sustainable development and harnessing the voluntary sector.

“I enjoy litter-picking locally around the riverside with my fox terrier Brian and plan to do more local volunteering. I recently became a proud and indulgent grandparent.”

MARK FENTON (LIB DEM)

“I made Worcester my home six years ago and that was one of the best decisions I have ever made. I love our city and want to do my bit to make living here the great experience it should be. I spent 30 years as a teacher and school leader and now support schools to deliver the best for young people.

“I am extremely fortunate to work at Worcester Cathedral, one of the great symbols of our city.

“I would campaign for better access to electric charging points since so many people do not have the option of giving up their cars despite the spiralling cost of fuel. I would also act to protect our green spaces which are so important to our quality of life. I would support active travel and better public transport to cut pollution and congestion clogging up our streets.

“Everyone deserves a better deal from politics than we are getting now, here in Worcester and at Westminster.”

ARCHIE HARRISON (TRADE UNION AND SOCIALIST COALITION)

No photo or profile provided.

ATIF SADIQ (LABOUR)

“I am a local community activist and have been a union organiser and student union chair. I love Worcester, I am passionate about the history, culture and its people. I regularly volunteer in community events and get involved in making my neighbourhood a better place.

“Seeing people in the city suffer as a result of NHS waiting lists and the cost-of-living crisis has spurred me to take action. Labour has been at the forefront of helping the most vulnerable in Worcester and this has inspired me to support its work in tackling rogue landlords, holding developers to account, and fighting for facilities to support our youth and elderly.

“My priorities are youth opportunities, safer streets, fighting the war on drugs and anti-social behaviour, tackling climate change and cleaner neighbourhoods. If you vote for me, you will be voting for integrity, action and a trusted Labour team.”

HARIS SALEEM (CONSERVATIVE)

“I have lived in Worcester for over 35 years, with 20 of those years in Cathedral ward and have seen it grow tremendously. As a long-standing community member, I would like to have an active role in changing and improving the city.

I have worked closely with the local ethnic minority communities and the police to tackle the ongoing social issues. Using these previous experiences, it is important to me to build cohesion and understanding between all walks of life. I have been involved in many local activities to promote health and well-being for the betterment of our youths.

“I personally feel that the Cathedral ward has been neglected for many years and aim to improve the area, utilising past knowledge I have gained. My aim is to promote youth engagement and reduce anti-social behaviour to provide a safer and cleaner city.”