Local Election 2018 - Live Commentary

Date published: 03 May 2018

The new make-up of the council is as follows:

Labour – 46
Conservative - 10
Liberal Democrats - 3
Independent - 1

Labour have held the following wards:

• Balderstone & Kirkholt
• Castleton
• Central Rochdale
• Healey
• Kingsway
• Littleborough Lakeside
• Milkstone & Deeplish
• Smallbridge & Firgrove
• Spotland & Falinge
• Hopwood Hall
• North Heywood
• West Heywood
• East Middleton
• North Middleton
• South Middleton
• West Middleton

The Liberal Democrats have taken Milnrow & Newhey ward from Labour with their candidate David Bamford elected. The Liberal Democrats now have three representatives on the council and all three are councillors in Milnrow & Newhey.

The Conservatives have held Bamford, Norden and Wardle & West Littleborough wards. 

Full results...

 

Interview with Dave Bamford (Lib Dem - Milnrow & Newhey)

 

Interview with Aasim Rashid (Labour - Castleton)

 

Interview with Angela Smith (Conservative - Bamford)

 

Interview with Janet Emsley (Labour - Littleborough Lakeside)

 

Interview with Labour Leader, Allen Brett

 

1.00am Janet Emsley is re-elected for Labour in Littleborough Lakeside and Kathleen Nickson has been re-elected in Balderstone & Kirkholt for Labour.

Labour candidate Faisal Rana has been elected in Spotland & Falinge to hold that ward and Patricia Dale has been elected in South Middleton to hold that ward for Labour.

 

Interview with Rochdale Labour MP, Tony Lloyd

 

00.40am Leader of the Council Allen Brett, and MPs Liz McInnes and Tony Lloyd express disappointment at the low turnout of 31.25%, expecting higher figures. 

"It is sad because it is bad for democracy," they say.

00.30am Shakil Ahmed says Kingsway looks like it has been retained as a Labour seat.

00.20am Independent candidate for Castleton, Brian Bamford, says it looks like Labour may lose their seat. Conservative councillor Peter Winkler agrees it looks close, with Castleton as 'one to watch' and says the party has made an impact in Hopwood Hall.

 

Interview with Conservative leader, Ashley Dearnley

 

00.05am Carl Faulkner, the Independent candidate in Spotland & Falinge ward, says that whilst the postal vote turnout was low, he is very confident in his chances and believes he won't place lower than second.

The count is now under way.

 

Interview with Lib Dem leader, Andy Kelly

 

23.55pm UKIP candidate Thomas Barnes says it's looking like the North Middleton seat will be close between him and the Independent candidate. 

He added: "If we get one councillor in, people can see we are worth voting for and have a visible prescence in the borough."

 

 

11.50pm Jonathan Kershaw, from the Green Party, is expecting a similar result to previous years and is "comfortable" with his expectations.

Verification of the votes has been completed and the count will begin soon.

 

 

11.40pm Independent candidate for North Middleton ward Keeley O'Mara has 'loved standing' and will be doing so again if she doesn't win the seat tonight. She has loved the positive feedback from the community.

 

Interview with Returning Officer, Steve Rumbelow

 

11.17pm Leader of the Conservatives Ashley Dearnley said: "We've put up a good fight, but I think it will be close in a few wards. It's too early to tell but it's going to be an interesting election."

11.16pm The votes have all been verified for Balderstone and Kirkholt, Hopwood Hall, North Heywood and West Middleton.

 

 

11.08pm Following the counting of the box from Spotland Road polling station, Phillip Massey declares "It's a lovely night for us in Spotland and Falinge. We're confident and we've had lots of support. Our hard work is paying off."

11.06pm Liberal Democrat candidate Rob McLean, who is standing in Healey, says the Lib Dem vote has increased where he was standing, but taking the seat "was always a long shot".

 

 

Leader of the Lib Dems, Andy Kelly, says it's looking good for them in Milnrow and Newhey.

10.50pm Labour councillor Liam O'Rourke has predicted Labour will win 14-18 seats, Liberal Democrats none or one and the Conservatives between one and five.

He adds: "Of course, that could all change and we'll see what happens. We've worked hard and campaigned hard."

 

 

10.49pm Jane Howard thinks the vote will be "tighter than normal" in Bamford, but is "quietly confident" that Conservative candidate Angela Smith will do well.

 

 

10.48pm Labour councillors Peter Rush and Ray Dutton are confident for North Heywood, whilst Paul Ellison says it's looking promising for the Conservatives in Hopwood Hall.

 

 

10.47pm Labour councillor Alan McCarthy says it's looking good for him in West Heywood, although turnout has been low.

10.35pm Leader of the Conservative party, Ashley Dearnley has arrived at the count.

10.30pm Liz McInnes MP has arrived at the count.

 

 

 

10.20pm Liberal Democrat leader, Andy Kelly has arrived at the count.

10.15pm Candidates, agents and their supporters have started to arrive.

 

 

 

10.02pm - The first ballot boxes have arrived.

9.45pm 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, including video interviews, from 10pm.

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The full list of candidates can be viewed at:

https://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/elections/candidates/29

 

The current make-up of the council is as follows:

Labour – 47
Conservative - 10
Liberal Democrat - 2
Independent - 1

A total of 20 seats are up for election:

Labour - 17
Conservative - 3
Liberal Democrat - 0