UP until recently, Claines was very much a Liberal Democrats seat with the party returning candidates to County Hall with comfortable victories. This all changed in 2017 when the Conservatives took control of the division with a margin of victory the Liberal Democrats were usually accustomed to. In an area that has flipped from all Lib Dem to all Conservative on Worcester City Council in recent years, a change of hands in Claines could well be on the cards again. Whilst the Liberal Democrats have again put forward Mel Allcott, who has enjoyed recent election success in Claines having been elected to represent the area on Worcester City Council in 2019, Andy Stafford will not be seeking re-election despite his triumph in toppling the Lib Dems last time out.