Local election 2023

Date published: 05 May 2023

The results for the local election are in and Labour has gained three seats, two from Middleton Independents Party  and one from the Conservatives in Littleborough Lakeside. Full report to follow...

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2.15pm: All the results are in for Heywood and Middleton. Norden and Bamford are held by the Conservatives, with Castleton, Hopwood Hall, North Heywood, South Middleton, West Heywood and West Middleton all being held by Labour.

The loss of two seats from MIP to Labour has "shocked and disappointed" the party.

Keeley O'Mara and another MIP member said they were disappointed with the low turnout in the Middleton wards, and cited voter apathy as potentially playing a role.

 

 

"People think voting isn't important or it won't matter one way," they said. "However, we're really proud of what we've achieved in 18 months, going up against well-established national parties. We're not done yet!"

Terry Smith - who returns as a councillor for Middleton after being elected today - said: “It’s brilliant to be back and I’d like to thank every person who put their faith in East ward and give me the courage of their vote.

“I’d like to thank Dylan Williams for his tremendous time and effort put in and my wife, Sue [Smith, a fellow councillor]. Sue, I love you and you’re the strongest person I’ve known. Thank you for choosing me as your husband.”

 

 

Elizabeth Atewologun has been elected as Labour’s new councillor for North Middleton. She has stood for the Labour party twice previously and is excited about starting her new role as a councillor.

She said: “It feels really good to have been elected and I’m ready to start working with the community, start casework and make sure residents are happy.

“Work starts straight away! I’ve already got some casework and I’m looking forward to finding solutions to residents’ issues, scrutinising the council and making a change.”

 

 

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2pm: All the results are in at Rochdale now, with the remaining wards, Healey, Kingsway, Milkstone & Deeplish, Spotland & Falinge all being held by Labour.

John Taylor was re-elected for the Conservatives in Wardle, Shore & West Littleborough.

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1.50pm: Labour has taken Littleborough Lakeside with a majority of just seven votes. Candidate Richard Jackson has been elected.

1.40pm: Sameena Zahir has been re-elected in Central ward and Dave Bamford has been re-elected for the Liberal Democrats in Milnrow & Newhey.

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Middleton Independents have lost two seats: Lee Wolf has lost his seat to Labour in North Middleton and Bernard Wynne has lost his in East Middleton to Labour.

 

 

Mr Emmott said he was concerned about last year's close vote but has swept with a majority of about 650 this year: "People have appreciated my hard work this year in my ward.

"I think MIP have slumped back this year, they’ve been really negative about everything from the regeneration of Middleton town centre, the metro link, and Warwick Mill. 

"I think people reacted last year because they were a shiny new party and people have realised they don’t have anything to offer Middleton.

"We brought a 2% council tax discount and we will be pushing for the same again next year because people will be struggling. We want to be able to do the same again."

 

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1.15pm: The first results are announced at the Rochdale count with Elsie Blundell and Amna Mir being re-elected in Balderstone & Kirkholt and Smallbridge & Firgrove wards respectively.

 

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1.15pm: The Conservatives are optimistic in Bamford and Norden and expect Mike Holly, the deputy Mayor, and Stephen Anstee to retain their seats. 

 

 

Local MP Chris Clarkson, and Bamford ward councillors Angela Smith and Patricia Sullivan, said they've got a good team "which is half the battle." 

Green party candidates Jonathan Kershaw and Sarah Croke say they've both received votes and that the Green party will continue to 'chip away' at local policies.

 

 

Sarah and MP Chris Clarkson have entered a passionate debate about voter turnout figures and apathy, but agree more needs to be done to address this.

The Lib Dems have stood a candidate in West Heywood this year, and we're told the results look "closer than expected" from a party member. 

"It's a good starting point," he says.

 

 

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1pm: Counts are well underway at Heywood and Middleton, with many wards now undergoing the verification process.

South Middleton candidate, Emma Hezelgrave-Whitworth, of the Middleton Independents, said it's hard to gauge [the results], whilst fellow MIP member Keeley O'Mara said the fledgling party has learnt a lot in the last year.

They said the party has focused on retaining its seats, and is hopeful for one or two more. 

 

 

For South Middleton, Pat Dale is the defending candidate for Labour and is very optimistic she has retained her seat, which she kept last year by a small majority.

She said: "I was concerned last year because it was a small majority, but as the year went on I became more confident because of the reaction of constituents. Labour has done so much to mitigate the cost of living crisis which people have really appreciated, like the 2% council tax rebate which I am personally proud of.

"People have shown what they think by revoting for me."

 

 

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12.30pm: On arrival at the Heywood and Middleton count, we spot council leader Neil Emmott, who says he will talk to us after his ward's count.

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The local election count gets underway today at 11am at two venues - Rochdale Leisure Centre and Heywood Sports Centre - with results not being expected until around 4pm.

20 seats are being contested, one in each ward, including Neil Emmott’s, the current council leader, in West Middleton. Neil held onto his seat last year by a majority of just 160 votes.

Conservative leader John Taylor will also be defending his seat in the Wardle, Shore and West Littleborough ward

In last year’s all-out local election – which saw all 60 seats contested – there were some big changes, and some small shake-ups, perhaps laying some groundwork for this year’s results?

Middleton Independents took all three seats in East Middleton from Labour, with 52 votes between the lowest MIP score and the highest Labour.

North Middleton last year saw Middleton Independents take two seats, with MIP's Lee Wolf standing for re-election this year.

Labour retained all three seats in South Middleton last year but third placed Patricia Dale pipped Middleton Independents to the third seat by just 54 votes.

Peter Reed – elected last year in Littleborough Lakeside – is standing down with former Labour councillor John Hartley as his Conservative replacement. John represented Littleborough Lakeside for Labour until 2021 and did not stand last year.
 

Read more: Labour left ‘flabbergasted’ as veteran councillor declares he is making a surprise comeback – with the ToriesPublished: 22 February 2023

This year, both Labour and the Conservative Parties are fielding candidates in all 20 wards.

The Liberal Democrats are fielding candidates in 15 wards, the exceptions being Balderstone & Kirkholt, Bamford, East Middleton, North Middleton, and North Heywood.

The Greens have nine candidates, contesting the wards of Balderstone & Kirkholt, Castleton, Kingsway, Littleborough Lakeside, Milkstone & Deeplish, Milnrow & Newhey, Norden, Spotland & Falinge, and Wardle, Shore & West Littleborough.

There are two independent candidates this year in Balderstone & Kirkholt and Castleton, and one Freedom Alliance in Smallbridge & Firgrove.

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

• Labour – 43
• Conservative – 10
• Middleton Independents Party – 4
• Liberal Democrat – 3

The seats up for election this year are as follows:

• Labour – 13
• Conservative – 4
• Middleton Independents Party – 2
• Liberal Democrat – 1

You can view the results for each ward once they are confirmed, here:

• www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/elections/election-results/38