diff --git a/csv-normaliser/main.php b/csv-normaliser/main.php
index e0a5c0e..6a43997 100644
--- a/csv-normaliser/main.php
+++ b/csv-normaliser/main.php
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ if (($handle = fopen($inputFile, "r")) !== FALSE) {
                 $currentWard = "Coastal-Promontory";
             }
         }
-        if ($data[0] == "Candidate" || $data[0] == "") {
+        if ($data[0] == "Candidate" || trim($data[0]) == "") {
             if ($currentWard == null) {
                 error_log("No ward found, skipping data on line " . $currentLine);
                 continue;