New twist in the saga of Reform UK and the postponed Higham Ferrers election

You may recall that Reform UK nominated four candidates for the postponed election in the two-member Higham Ferrers ward of North Northamptonshire Council.

You may also recall that one of them withdrew and that one of the remaining three has moved to China.

Now, reports the Northamptonshire Telegraph, there are questions about the eligibility of another Reform candidate:

One candidate now standing for Reform – Elisa Perna – previously stood in the Oundle ward during May’s council elections.

But now doubt has been cast over whether this is actually allowed.

Different legal interpretations came to light when the Liberal Democrats sought advice from The Electoral Commission – the independent body which oversees elections in the UK – on whether a candidate who had already stood on May 1 could stand in the election on Thursday, June 12.

They were told: “A person cannot stand in more than one ward in the same council at the same ordinary election.

“Therefore, you cannot nominate someone who was already nominated in another North Northamptonshire ward for the May 1 elections.”

So the returning officer in North Northamptonshire has taken a different view from the Electoral Commission. Behind its paywall, the NN Journal suggests this could lead to an election petition to the High Court.

Me? I've got plenty of photos of Higham Ferrers, so keep the twists coming.

Reform candidate for Higham Ferrers has moved to China

Reform UK nominated four candidates for a postponed election in the Higham Ferrers ward of North Northamptonshire Council. Which was good going, seeing as it's only a two-member ward.

One of them withdrew in time, but there will still be three Reform candidates on the ballot paper come 12 June.

And one of those three has since moved to China, which means that if he's elected he'll have to resign and cause a by-election.

A Reform councillor told the Northamptonshire Telegraph:

“He has just had a change of circumstances. He has got a Chinese wife and something has happened and he has got to go over there to China.

"If he gets elected we will have to have a by-election.”

On consulting my files, I find I have taken no photographs in China but have plenty from Higham Ferrers.

h/t Mark Pack

Archbishop Chichele's school at Higham Ferrers

Archbishop Henry Chichele's school stands next to St Mary's Higham Ferrers and dates from the early 15th century.

It was used as a grammar school between 1542 and 1906, before being consecrated as a chantry chapel in 1942.

Today it is noted for its intrusive skip.

Higham Ferrers Methodist church

No, I didn't have much luck with churches in Higham Ferrers.

This is the Methodist church and My Wesleyan Methodists explains its current state:

Higham Ferrers, High Street Wesleyan Methodist Chapel was probably built around 1900. In 1940 it seated 571 persons in pews and had a schoolroom and ten other rooms. The premises are at present undergoing a major redevelopment. The chapel had been closed and stands empty while the buildings to the rear have been demolished and a temporary structure erected in their place.

Derelict Places has been inside and posted some photos of what was once clearly a significant church.

Locked, barred and bolted: St Mary's, Higham Ferrers

Pevsner says St Mary's, Higham Ferrers, is 'a very grand and interesting church' , but I found it locked, barred and bolted.

Still, there is plenty to enjoy about the exterior, and close by are a 14th century cross and a bede house and grammar school from the 15th.

You can see the first two here, but I shall save the school for another day.

Higham Ferrers to lose its library

I started showing my holiday snaps of Higham Ferrers with Chichele College and had planned to visit the town's church next.

But this story from the Northamptonshire Telegraph intervened:

Higham Ferrers Library is up for sale and will most likely close at the end of the year. 

The library is being sold by the county council for £400,000 although the authority says it would still welcome offers for the building that would allow it to continue as a community managed library. ... 

Community organisation Higham Ferrers Library Group had been planning to take over Higham Ferrers library but decided it could not afford to do so earlier this year as they could not find the annual £19,000 in rent asked for by NCC and were unwilling to put their own finances in jeopardy.

Will any local services survive much more Conservative national and local government?

Higham Ferrers library was built in 1904 as the town's parish rooms. Pevsner says it was designed by Talbot Brown in 'an attractive Northants vernacular Jacobean manner'.

Chichele College, Higham Ferrers

Chichele College, Higham Ferrers, was founded by Henry Chichele, Archbishop of Canterbury from 1414 to 1443 and the founder of All Souls’ College, Oxford. He was born in the town in about 1362.

Until the Reformation it served as a a chantry college, offering prayers for the souls of the patron and his family and offering education.

In the 18th century served the building housed an inn. By the early 20th century it was reduced to a single farm cottage and granary.

Today the remaining building is used for art exhibitions and its garden is open to the public daily.