Candidates for Rochdale confirmed for general election 2024

Rochdalians will be going to the polls for the third time in six months – and now the latest election candidates have been confirmed. 

The general election will take place on 4 July, following the shock announcement from Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at the end of May. A total of 650 seats are up for grabs across the country in what will be the first nationwide election since 2019 – 27 of those seats are in Greater Manchester.

Constituency borders have changed since the by-election in February, meaning that the Rochdale borough is now be covered by three parliamentary constituencies instead of two.

Two wards in Middleton - East Middleton and South Middleton - are now part of the Blackley & Middleton South constituency.

Spotland & Falinge ward is no longer a part of the Rochdale constituency and has moved into the renamed Heywood & Middleton North constituency which already included Castleton, Norden and Bamford wards.

The changes mean that there are now nine council ward areas in the Rochdale constituency and nine in the new Heywood & Middleton North constituency compared with ten in each of the current constituencies.

In the Rochdale constituency, the leader of the Workers Party, George Galloway, will have to defend the seat he took from Labour back in February. Hot on his heels will be the Rochdale-born author and journalist Paul Waugh – who has been confirmed as Labour’s candidate for the upcoming general election.

Apart from the incumbent Rochdale MP, the only candidate to survive from the by-election back in February is Paul Ellison, who has been confirmed as the Conservative candidate once again.

Leader of the local Liberal Democrats, councillor Andy Kelly who has previously stood in Rochdale is standing again for the party.

Here is the full list of candidates for the Rochdale constituency:

• Paul Ellison (Conservative)
• George Galloway (Workers Party)
• Michael Howard (Reform)
• Andy Kelly (Liberal Democrats)
• Martyn Savin (Green)
• Paul Waugh (Labour)

Residents have until 18 June to make sure they are on the electoral register and entitled to vote in the election. To register, go to www.gov.uk/register-to-vote.

The closing date for requesting a postal vote is 19 June: go to www.gov.uk/apply-postal-vote, Remember voters need photo ID to vote in person on election day. Acceptable forms of ID are listed here: www.electoralcommission.org.uk/voterID or call their helpline on 0800 328 0280.

Voters who do not have suitable photo ID, you can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate by 26 June – go to www.gov.uk/apply-for-photo-id-voter-authority-certificate or call the helpline 0800 328 0280.

George Lythgoe, Local Democracy Reporter