Local Election 2016 - Live Commentary

Date published: 05 May 2016

Labour gained one seat and lost one seat. Liberal Democrats gained one seat and the Conservatives lost one seat so the new make-up of the council is as follows:

Labour – 48
Conservative - 10
Liberal Democrat - 2

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Local Election results 2016

www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/elections/election-results/26

2.00am Labour hold South Middleton, West Middleton and Littleborough Lakeside.

Conservatives hold Norden.

1.55am Irene Davidson wins Milnrow & Newhey for the Liberal Democrats (from Labour).

Labour gain Spotland & Falinge from the Conservatives as Wendy Cocks is elected.

Labour hold Castleton, Central Rochdale, East Middleton, Healey & West Heywood.

1.35am Shakil Ahmed is re-elected for Labour in Kingsway.

Allen Brett is elected in his new ward of Milkstone & Deeplish and the Lib Dems take his old seat in Milnrow & Newhey.

Wendy Cocks is elected as a new councillor in Spotland & Falinge in a gain for Labour.

Amna Mir is re-elected as a Labour councillor in Smallbridge & Firgrove.

1.15am Labour leader Richard Farnell is re-elected in Balderstone & Kirkholt.

Linda Robinson is re-elected for Labour in Hopwood Hall.

Donna Williams is re-elected for Labour in North Middleton.

Liam O'Rourke is re-elected for Labour in North Heywood.

1.10pm The first results are expected to be announced shortly.

Mohammad Arshad, Labour party candidate in Bamford:"I wasn't sure at first but it's starting to look very close. I am feeling more confident than before.

00.50am The count is underway in Bamford, Castleton, South Middleton, Littleborough Lakeside, Milnrow & Newhey and Wardle & West Littleborough wards.

Carl Faulkner, Independent in Spotland & Falinge: "It is starting to look like Labour. My fingers are still crossed."

Malcolm Boris, Labour candidate in East Middleton: "As far as I can see I will still be a councillor, but I have to be honest and say it is close with UKIP. They are getting more votes than I'd thought."

Labour Councillor Chris Furlong: "I think in general there is going to be an increased majority in Middleton and also in Heywood, but of course time will confirm that."

Ashley Dearnley standing for re-election in Wardle & West Littleborough: "The Conservatives are looking very healthy at the moment because they have stretched out Labour. We have candidates in every ward. Let's see how the night turns out."

Councillor Allen Brett is standing for Labour in Milkstone & Deeplish

00.05am Most wards have finished verifying votes, just waiting for the last few wards to finish verification before the votes can start to be counted.

11.50pm Bamford ward close between Conservative and Labour. Labour are just ahead in Healey ward. Labour leader Richard Farnell looks to have held his seat in Balderstone & Kirkholt.

Labour Councillor Cecile Biant: "It is looking good for us [in Spotland & Falinge] but too early to say for sure. I think we have a better chance in this ward because there is no UKIP candidate standing here."

11.35pm Labour are well in front in Central Rochdale ward and the Conservatives look likely to hold Bamford. Jane Howard is the new Conservative candidate in Bamford ward as Cllr Jane Gartside stepped down this year.

11.25pm Simon Danczuk MP has arrived at the count.

Donna Williams, Labour candidate in North Middleton: "We got a positive response at the polling station."

Malcolm Boriss, Labour Councillor in East Middleton on the vote in that ward: "It looks as though we're gong to keep it. 

Liz McInnes, MP for Heywood & Middleton: "I was at the Middleton South polling station earlier today and it was looking very strong, votes were increasing quickly and I am very excited about Heywood and Middleton as well was Rochdale tonight."

Carl Faulkner, Independent candidate in Spotland & Falinge: "I am looking forward to this result but it really is hard to say either way. We were doing well until they opened another box and it was all Labour. Now I just don't know."

11.20pm Cllr Allen Brett, in his new ward of Milkstone & Deeplish, looks to be in front. 

11.15pm Cllr Billy Sheerin looks set to retain his seat in Castleton ward.

11.05pm Irene Davidson, the Liberal Democrat candidate is ahead of the new Labour candidate Duncan Hannant in the Milnrow & Newhey ward. Allen Brett was the Labour Councillor in this ward but he has moved to stand in Milkstone & Deeplish this election.

11.00pm It's too close to call between the Labour and Independent candidates in Spotland & Falinge ward.

Green Party candidates

Liberal Democrat Councillor Andy Kelly: "The postal votes were high, as for the polling station it was steady in the morning and sort of picked up. We hope to win Milnrow tonight of course, but apart from that, I would say that we should expect some surprise votes from other wards too."

Conservative Councillor Ian Duckworth: Not a huge amount people came to the polling station but I was happy with the postal votes.”

Labour Councillor Cecile Biant: “The turnout at the polling stations was lower than we expected in the beginning but then it seemed to pick up. The nice weather certainly helped. We are excited to see the turnout of the evening.”

10.45pm Kingsway ward is also looking to be favouring Labour.

10.35pm Littleborough Lakeside ballot boxes have arrived and the first box is looking good for Labour.

Labour councillors Surinder and Cecile Biant watch the counters for the Labour candidate Wendy Cocks in their ward, Spotland & Falinge

10.25 The first ballot boxes have arrived for Spotland & Falinge ward.

10.15pm The first ballot boxes for Castleton ward have arrived.  

10.05pm Candidates, agents and their supporters have started to arrive.

10.00pm The counters have begun verifying the postal votes.

9.50pm The Sports Hall at Heywood Sports Centre is set up, with counters and staff ready and waiting for the polls to close.

Our reporters will be at the Local Election count tonight updating this live commentary page from 10pm.

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Before today's election the make-up of the council was as follows:

Labour – 48
Conservative - 11
Liberal Democrat - 1


A total of 20 seats on the council are available at this election.

The seats up for election:

Labour - 16
Conservative - 4
Liberal Democrat - 0