By-election candidate confirmed following passing of longest-serving councillor Colin Aherne

By Hannah Neary, local democracy reporter

The four candidates who want to represent Wormholt and White City on Hammersmith and Fulham Council have been confirmed.

The by-election for the seat is taking place on September 23 following the passing of the authority’s longest-serving councillor Colin Aherne.

The candidates standing in the election are: Constance Mary Campbell (CONSERVATIVE), Michael Illingworth (LIB DEM), Naranee Ruthra-Rajan (GREEN), and Frances Umeh (LABOUR).

Cllr Aherne served on the council for 35 years and died unexpectedly aged 77 in July.

He was the Labour chief whip, serving on the planning and licensing committees for 35 years, and planned to run again in next year’s council elections.

Councillor Aherne grew up in Tredegar in South Wales and later joined the Army.

He was a governor at Wormholt Park Primary School and spent three decades there as chairman.

To register to vote in the by-election, applications must be made to the electoral registration officer by midnight on September 7.

Applications to vote by post, to cancel or amend existing postal or proxy votes, or change from postal to proxy voting must be submitted by 5pm on September 8.

Applications to vote by proxy be submitted by 5pm on September 15 and applications to vote by emergency proxy be submitted by 5pm September 23.