IF THERE is one thing we have found out in the 2014 election coverage in Harlow it is that there seems to be a helluva lot of candidates that seem to jump ship.

From Labour to UKIP, from Cons to UKIP, from Lib Dem to Labour etc. In 2010, Conservative Guy Mitchinson won the seat with a majority of 62 and that was in a popular year for the Tories. In 2011, Labour won by 178 and in 2012 they won by a further 207.

A healthy gap but not one in which you can totally relax which is probably why Labour have done a lot of work here, promoting (here we go) former Lib Dem councillor, John Strachan.

You have the feeling that there will be a lot of frustrated voters in this ward and they may well express their ire by voting UKIP.

As they are an unknown quantity in this ward it is hard to assess but

YH prediction: Lab hold: 85

Staple Tye

Zulqar Cheema (HIP)
Ian Jackson (Lib Dems)
Bill Pryor (UKIP)
Stevie Souter (Cons)
John Strachan (Lab)