Rochdale Council local elections 2021: All the candidates standing in your ward

The borough of Rochdale was hit by a ‘political earthquake’ at the 2019 general election when Chris Clarkson became Heywood and Middleton’s first ever Conservative MP.

But will voters deliver another shock at next month’s local elections, which were cancelled last year because of the coronavirus pandemic?

A third of the council is up for election on Thursday 6 May, with 78 candidates standing across the borough’s 20 wards.

Rochdale Council is currently dominated by Labour, who account for 44 of the 60 elected members. The Conservatives are the second largest group with nine councillors, followed by the Lib Dems with three.

The 20 seats being contested at this election include 15 Labour council seats, three Conservative seats, one Liberal Democrat seat and one non-aligned seat.

It would take an extraordinary result to release Labour’s grip on the borough – but the party is sure to be wary of any continuing shift towards the Conservatives – particularly in the wards in Heywood and Middleton.

Labour council leader Allen Brett and Conservative leader Councillor Ashley Dearnley – are both up for re-election this time around.

However, both will be strong favourites to retain their respective Milkstone and Deeplish, and Wardle and West Littleborough seats. 

This election also presents a tale of two former council leaders.

Two-time leader Councillor Richard Farnell will not contest the Balderstone and Kirkholt seat he has held since 2012.

Councillor Farnell stood down as leader of the council in 2017 after coming under pressure following his evidence to the Independent Inquiry into Child Abuse (IICSA).
 

Read more: Councillor Richard Farnell resigns as Leader of Rochdale Borough CouncilPublished: 08 December 2017

He was suspended by Labour after the inquiry found he had ‘lied under oath’. Councillor Farnell quit the party in 2018, but has continued to serve as a ‘non-aligned’ councillor for Balderstone and Kirkholt.

Labour will be hoping that Phil Massey – whose wife Rachel represents Spotland and Falinge – will reclaim the seat.

In contrast Colin Lambert – who was ousted as Labour leader by Councillor Farnell in 2014 – is eyeing a return to the council.

More recently Mr Lambert stood as The Brexit Party candidate for Heywood and Middleton at the 2019 general election.

He is now seeking election as a councillor in the West Heywood ward, where he is standing as an independent.

 

 

Elsewhere Stephen Anstee – a former councillor on Trafford Council – will fight it out in Bamford. He is taking up the mantle for the Conservatives as Councillor Jane Warne (formerly Howard) is standing down this year.

Labour councillor Billy Sheerin, who became mayor in 2019 and had his mayoral term extended into 2020/21 due to the pandemic, will again be standing for re-election in Castleton. The 76-year-old has represented the ward since 2012.

East Middleton is certain to get a new councillor following Councillor Malcolm Boriss’ decision to retire after 13 years’ service to the ward. Terrance Smith is the man tasked with retaining the seat for Labour.

Councillor Wendy Cocks, current incumbent in Spotland and Falinge is standing in West Heywood ward this year, in place of Peter Malcolm (Labour) who is stepping down.

Iram Faisal, wife of current Councillor Faisal Rana, has been selected as to fight the Spotland and Falinge seat for Labour.

Rochdale ‘Man of the Year 2019’ Paul Ellison will again be contesting the Hopwood Hall seat for the Conservatives, having lost out last time around to Labour’s Councillor Susan Emmott.

There are also a number of smaller parties fielding candidates this year.

The Green Party has candidates standing in 14 wards, while there is also one candidates from UKIP, one from the Social Democratic Party and one from anti-lockdown party Freedom Alliance.

Three independents are also standing, one in each of the three Heywood wards; Hopwood Hall, North Heywood and West Heywood.

View the full list of candidates in every ward in the local election 2021 section of Rochdale Online:

• www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/elections/

Nick Statham, Local Democracy Reporter