Local Election 2019 - Live Commentary

Date published: 02 May 2019

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

Labour – 47
Conservative - 9
Liberal Democrats - 4

Labour have gained Littleborough Lakeside.

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

The Liberal Democrats have held Milnrow & Newhey ward.

• Full results...

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The count is complete and all the results are in. Labour have gained one councillor in Littleborough Lakeside from the Conservatives and held their other seats.

1.30am - Liberal Democrat leader Andy Kelly has retained his seat in Milnrow & Newhey.

Conservative councillor Rina Paolucci has retained her seat in Wardle & West Littleborough.

Labour have held Balderstone & Kirkholt, Castleton, Healey and West Heywood.

1.15am - Labour have taken Littleborough Lakeside from the Conservatives. Tom Besford won with just 879 votes (a majority of 182).

New candidates Elsie Wraighte and Rachel Massey have held Kingsway ward and Spotland & Falinge ward (respectively) for Labour.

Labour have held Smallbridge & Firgrove and East Middleton.

1am - Labour have held North Middleton and South Middleton. Labour have also held Hopwood Hall, North Heywood and West Middleton.

The Conservatives have held Bamford and Norden wards.

Labour have held Milkstone & Deeplish ward and Central Rochdale ward.

12.20am - The first results are expected to be announced soon.

Councillor Janet Emsley said: "I am quietly optimistic for Littleborough Lakeside", whilst Conservative Councillor Ann Stott whose seat is up for election said: "The result will be close".

12.05am - Counting is underway.

11.50pm - Verification of the votes has been completed and the count will begin soon.

 

 

Rachel Massey, Labour's candidate for Spotland & Falinge: "I'm not disappointed. There has been a lot of first time voters and I was excited to meet them. 

Phil Massey, Rachel's husband and Chairman of the Spotland and Falinge Area Forum: "What we have seen so far is reflective of the hard work in the ward. 

"We have put the effort in and kept going. We have worked hard all year. Whatever happens, we are very grateful for the eight years of work Cecile and Surinder put in. Cecile is never afraid to stand up for the party and will  be missed dearly by Rochdale."

Cecile Biant, who will be standing down at tonight's election: "Rachel is a wonderful candidate. She is not just a clever lady, she is very kind and compassionate and very good at common sense decisions, which is essential in a councillor."

 

 

Jane Howard, Conservative councillor for Bamford: "We are quite optimistic for Bamford, although the figures aren't as high as normal because of the low turnout."

Shakil Ahmed, Labour councillor for Kingsway says his ward "should be safe" with Elsie Wraighte standing for the first time this year, replacing Lynne Brosnan.

Keeley O'Mara, who stood as an Independent candidate last year has said that whilst she isn't standing this year, she promises to be standing again next year.

Thomas Barnes, UKIP's candidate for North Middleton: "We are doing better than last year. There has been a low turnout, but I think if the voting was compulsory, we'd win."

Mick Coats, the Green Party candidate in Spotland & Falinge: "I hope we do well because we want better politics for Rochdale, there has been a Green revival with new members."

 

 

 

 

 

Green Party candidate in Kingsway, Mark Hollinrake: "The key battle tonight is West Heywood, it looks to be on a knife edge between UKIP and Labour, I hope Labour hold their seat because Jacqui Beswick is a very good councillor.  I am very surprised and sad Labour deselected Lynn Brosnan in Kingsway, she is a very good councillor and it’s a sad loss to the community."

 

Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Andy Kelly: "I’ve really enjoyed campaigning this year, all poling station staff have been exceptional, they have been very professional and helpful which I hope has been reflected across the borough. I’ve been campaigning for four years, not two weeks and we will see the result of this later. A low turnout could lead to a shock result but the Lib Dems are looking to make good increases this year and time will tell."

Leader of the Conservatives, Ashley Dearnley: "Campaigning has been very difficult, its been a difficult time because of the national situation. We’ve had some super, local candidates who have done a excellent job and I hope the people in the election do well. We have got a very strong Conservative team."

 

 

Conservative candidate in Hopwood Hall, Paul Ellison: "I’ve worked tirelessly in Hopwood Hall and I believe the local election should be about the person, forgetting national politics. I am dismayed the public might not vote for the right person based on that."

10.30pm Leader of the Conservative party, Ashley Dearnley has arrived at the count.

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

10.05pm - The counters have begun verifying postal votes.

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 from 10pm.

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The full list of candidates can be viewed at:

https://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/elections/candidates/31

 

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

Labour – 46
Conservative - 10
Liberal Democrat - 4

A total of 20 seats are up for election:

Labour - 15
Conservative - 4
Liberal Democrat - 1