Labour’s Graham Stringer wins new Blackley and Middleton South seat amid boundary changes

Graham Stringer has claimed victory in Blackley and Middleton South at this year’s general election.

Mr Stringer secured 16,864 votes, meaning he increased his vote share from 37 percent in the old Blackley and Broughton constituency in 2019, to 53.8 percent this morning (Friday 5 July). He has been the area’s MP since 1997, having previously led Manchester City Council from 1984 to 1996.

Changes to constituency boundaries mean it is the first time this seat has been contested, with Mr Stringer previously holding the Blackley and Broughton seat. It means there has been a Labour MP in this part of north Manchester continuously since 1964.

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

Recent boundary changes have meant that two wards in Middleton - East Middleton and South Middleton - are now part of the Blackley & Middleton South constituency.

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

Mr Stringer said: “For the eighth time… thank you to all the people who have delivered all the letters and postal votes."

He added: “I would like to say there’s the opportunity for us to right the wrongs that has happened over the last 14 years: The government that prioritised giving to affluent areas of the country, that prioritised the rich over the poor and lies over the truth.

“We must rid us all of that. We must be transparent in a difficult time.”

In second place was Reform’s Alison Devine, who secured 6,614 votes, or 21.1 percent.

Meanwhile, George Galloway lost his seat in Rochdale, as Labour's Paul Waugh is announced the new MP:
 

Read more: George Galloway absent as Paul Waugh announced as Rochdale’s new MPPublished: 05 July 2024

Elsie Blundell is now the Labour MP for Heywood and Middleton North:
 

Read more: "I won't let you down" - Elsie Blundell new Labour MP for Heywood & Middleton NorthPublished: 05 July 2024

Ethan Davies, Local Democracy Reporter