Local Election: A good night overall for Labour despite the loss of Milnrow & Newhey

Date published: 04 May 2018

A good night overall for Labour holding 16 seats to retain its significant majority on Rochdale Borough Council with 46 councillors.

Labour won 16 seats, Lib Dems one and the Conservatives three - see the full results at:

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

Disappointment for Labour's Neil Butterworth who lost to the Lib Dems in Milnrow and Newhey, Dave Bamford is the ward's new councillor.

There was also a scare for Labour in Castleton as the Conservative vote increased significantly and Aasim Rashid held the seat with a majority of just 41.

Councillor Janet Emsley retained her seat in Littleborough Lakeside

Leader of the council, Councillor Allen Brett said: “We retained 16 of 20 seats, which is very good. I am sad we lost one in Milnrow and Newhey.

"We have the same plans we’ve always had, spending money on roads across the borough and the environment so we have the cleanest borough in Greater Manchester. We will also be looking at how we can attract new industries to the area.”

Councillor Ray Dutton, Rochdale MP Tony Lloyd, Councillor Carol Wardle, Councillor Aftab Hussain and Councillor Peter Rush delighted with the Labour results

The Liberal Democrats will be dispapointed after talking up their chances in Healey, Littleborough Lakeside and Central, but failing to win any of those target seats by a considerable margin.

The one gain for the Lib Dems was in Milnrow and Newhey, where they now have all three councillors.

New councillor for Milnrow and Newhey, Dave Bamford, said: “I’m absolutely thrilled. I am very nervous, but thank you so much to the people of Milnrow and Newhey who voted for me. All our hard work paid off and it’s time to pay you back.”

Dave Bamford is the new Lib Dem councillor for Milnrow & Newhey

Lib Dem leader Andy Kelly said: “We’re over the moon to have won Milnrow and Newhey from the Labour party. It’s testament to Dave, his popularity and recognition of how hard he works. He’s reliable and I look forward to having two ward colleagues. I’m very pleased and I thank the people of Milnrow and Newhey for returning Dave, I am sure he will repay that.

“The threat was there, but people voted loudly that they wouldn’t be threatened and bullied. We’ll be keeping a close eye on the budget and spending on wards that did not vote Labour. We won’t let that lie or be brushed under the carpet.”

The Conservatives will be disappointed at losing by so few votes in Castleton, however, overall they will be pleased having held Bamford in the face of a major Labour effort in the ward, and also holding Norden and Wardle & West Littleborough wards. Councillors Ian Duckworth and Robert Clegg both stood down and have been replaced by new councillors, Angela Smith and John Taylor.

John Taylor (right) is the new Conservative councillor for Wardle & West Littleborough

Angela Smith, who retained Bamford for the Conservatives, said: “This was my first time standing and I’ve been campaigning for about 18 months. Tonight has been nerve-wracking, but I think it’s paid off. I’ve had an incredible team and amazing support.”

Fellow ward councillor Pat Sullivan added: “We couldn’t have had a better or more hard-working candidate.”

Of the other candidates, independents Keeley O’Mara and Carl Faulkner polled highly, placing second in their wards.

The Green Party came third in Castleton.

The new make-up of the council

Labour – 46

Conservative - 10

Liberal Democrats - 3

Independent - 1

The overall turnout was 31.25%.

The largest turnouts were in Bamford (42.3%) and Central (44.6%)

The lowest turnouts were in West Middleton and West Heywood, with both wards just 22.4%. Other wards with very low turnouts were North Heywood 23.5% with and 23.7% in Balderstone and Kirkholt.

The full set of results and turnouts can be seen at:

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

Rochdale Online speaks to three successful local election candidates, one from each of the main parties - Janet Emsley (Labour), Dave Bamford (Lib Dem) and Angela Smith (Conservative)
©Rochdale Online