Triple by-elections have been announced for Liverpool council

A triple council by-election will be held in Liverpool on the same day as the general election.

Three sitting Labor councilors announced their decision to stand down last week.

Helen Avis, who represented Fazakerley North; Nick Crofts of Broadgreen; and Louise Ashton, member of Clubmoor East, have left their posts with immediate effect.

Ms Avis was elected to the council to represent the Fazakerley ward in a by-election in 2022 following the resignation of former councilor Lindsay Melia.

She was subsequently returned at last year’s general election for Fazakerley North under the district’s new boundaries.

In a joint statement from the Labor group announcing the resignations, Ms Avis said her decision to stand down came after she and her family moved from Liverpool.

Mr Crofts was a fixture on the Labor benches for 12 years.

He held the seat of Knotty Ash until last May when he fought for and won the new seat of Broadgreen after a major council map reshuffle.

Explaining his departure, he said: “Unfortunately, recent changes in my work mean that I am increasingly busy and can no longer serve my residents with the full commitment they deserve.”

Mrs Ashton was only elected to the local authority in May last year but said she was stepping down following a death.

She said: “It’s been a really hard decision but it’s the right one for my family as I’ve recently been bereaved and now have to focus on looking after my children at this difficult time.”

Nominations close on June 7.