AS Oxfordshire goes to the polls this May, some key seats will be missing candidates from certain political parties.

This is because in certain seats, Liberal Democrats and Green council candidates have decided to stand aside for one another.

In Wallingford for example, which is currently held by Green councillor Pete Sudbury, the Lib Dems have stood down their prospective candidate.

The aim of this action is to not split the 'progressive' left-leaning vote among locals, who could then potentially lose to another party like the Conservatives.

Pete Sudbury, the local Green candidate and current councillor, said: "That is the way smaller parties win seats. It has stopped the progressive parties from splitting the vote, which doesn't benefit anyone."

ALSO READ: Volunteers to be re-exposed to Covid-19 in the UK

The other candidates standing for his seat on the county council are Labour's George Ryall and Lee Upcraft for the Conservatives.

A similar informal pact led to Dr Sudbury's election in late 2019 during the Wallingford by-election.

It is understood however, that there is no formal voting pact between the two parties, it is instead being described as local co-operation.

This has also helped form the ruling Green-Lib Dem group on South Oxfordshire District Council, and the Progressive Oxfordshire Group on Cherwell District Council.

In Cherwell's upcoming elections, the Greens have stood down a candidate for the Kidlington West seat, and the Lib Dems have stood down their candidate for Kidlington east.