Opinion: In Tony Lloyd Rochdale has elected a man of great political experience

Tony Lloyd MP

In Tony Lloyd, Rochdale has elected a man of great political experience, with excellent contacts both within Greater Manchester and at Westminster, and that can only be of benefit to Rochdale.

With the most staggering election victory in Rochdale's history, Mr Lloyd beat the opposition in the best way possible, by running a positive campaign.

For far too long Rochdale has suffered negative headlines, many the result of the disgraceful behaviour of former MP Simon Danczuk, who dragged Rochdale's name into the gutter time and time again.

What is needed now is a 'safe pair of hands', and in Tony Lloyd that is exactly what Rochdale now has - a decent, capable MP who will not be on the front page of the tabloids for all the wrong reasons.

That said, Mr Lloyd must know he has a difficult task ahead, Rochdale has suffered disproportionately for too many years and that needs to change; Mr Lloyd will need to broker a fairer deal for the town from central government, and also to ensure Rochdale is not considered the metaphorical runt of the litter within Greater Manchester, with its newly devolved powers.

In voting for him in such huge numbers, the people of Rochdale have given Mr Lloyd an unequivocal mandate to get on with the job of helping to bring stability and prosperity back to this once great town of ours - the sooner, the better.