Liberal Democrats lose overall control of Rochdale Council

The results from the Rochdale Local Election count have resulted in the Liberal Democrats losing overall control of the council.

The make up of the council is now:
Liberal Democrat - 26
Independent - 1
Labour - 22
Conservative - 11 

The Independent is Councillor Brenda Kerslake, who was not up for re-election this time, and though having left the Lib Dems is likely to vote with them in the council chamber.

In Rochdale the Liberal Democrats retained four seats, in Healey, Milkstone and Deeplish, Milnrow and Newhey and Balderstone and Kirkholt.

Labour took four seats, in Central Rochdale, Spotland and Falinge, Kingsway and Smallbridge and Firgrove.

The Conservatives retained Wardle and West Littleborough and gained two further seats in Littleborough Lakeside and Healey.

In Heywood and Middleton Labour retained five seats, in East Middleton, North Middleton, West Middleton, Hopwood Hall and West Heywood.

The Liberal Democrats retained three seats, in Castleton, Norden and North Heywood.

The Conservatives retained South Middleton and gained Bamford with former councillor Ian Duckworth retutning to the council. Mr Duckworth said: "It has taken a lot of hard work but I am delighted to once again be representing the people of Bamford."

Labour Candidate Daalat Ali won the seat for Kingsway, taking it from the Liberal Democrats.

Mr Ali said: “I feel very good, but it is a bit of an anti-climax because all of the excitement of last night.

“Kingsway is a very ignored ward and I am hoping to be pro-active and work with the people and listen to their concerns.”

Labour also took the Spotland and Falinge seat from Liberal Democrat Peter Clegg. The winner, Surinder Biant said: “Out of all of the wards this was the safest for the Lib Dems so to crack that is great.” 

Sultan Ali also returned to the council winning in Central Rochdale ward for Labour, a spokesperson for Mr Ali said: “We are looking forward to celebrating. Thank you to all the team.”

Labour candidate Martin Burke took the Smallbridge and Firgrove seat from Liberal Democrat Christine Akram, whose agent, Councillor Jean Ashworth, said: “This is the strangest election ever. I believe that just yesterday Martin Burke made a comment whilst visiting our ward about having never been there before.

“I am very disappointed.

"Everybody has worked hard and I will continue to fight for the Liberal Democrats.”

Liberal Democrat Councillor Dale Mulgrew held his seat in Balderstone and Kirkholt. He said: “It is fantastic to have received this level of support from Balderstone and Kirkholt.

“I would like to thank everybody who voted for all their support and faith in me.”

The Liberal Democrats held on to their seat in Milkstone and Deeplish by  a very narrow margin, Shah Wazir, replacing Angela Coric after her de-selection. Mr Wazir said: “I am very emotional, I would especially like to thank all of my supporters and I aim to serve them to the best of my ability.”

Andrew Kelly kept the seat for the Liberal Democrats in Milnrow and Newhey, replacing Councillor Denis Whittle following his de-selection earlier this year.

Mr Kelly said: “I am feeling very relieved as it was close.

“I am looking forward to working hard for the next four years.”

The Lib Dems also lost a seat to the Conservatives in the Littleborough Lakeside ward. Stephanie Mills took the seat from Pauline Maguire.

Ms Mills said: “I feel fantastic, this is the first time I have stood and I would like to thank all the helpers and supporters for their votes.”

Prior to the results being announced, Pauline Maguire had said she "couldn’t call it" and she told Rochdale Online she had had a good six years and would either have another four to go or four years of rest.

There were two seats up for grabs in the Healey ward; one was taken by Liberal Democrat Hilary Rodgers and the other by Conservative Andrew Neilson who, standing for the fourth time, defeated former Lib Dem council leader Alan Taylor. 

When asked about working alongside a Conservative councillor Mrs Rodgers said: “We will work together. We are all there for the good of the ward.”

Of the three independents standing, none was elected, however, there is little doubt their presence had a marked effect on the outcome in their wards. Frank Salt in Castleton polled the most votes of the Independents, tripling his support from 241 to 763 and almost helping former Labour councillor Jean Horby to cause a big upset by eating deeply into the sizeable Lib Dem majority, Peter Davison retaining his seat with just 55 votes to spare.

Former Labour councillor turned independent, Darren Pedley, in Balderstone and Kirkholt, polled  515 votes and almost certainly stopped Labour's Stefan Chowleka from taking the seat from Lib Dem Councillor Dale Mulgrew.

In Spotland & Falinge, the 561 votes polled by Carl Faulkner would have kept the Lib Dems Peter Clegg in his seat had the votes otherwise gone to him, instead another former Labour councillor, Surinder Biant, returns to the council with a majority of 400.

Labour leader Councillor Colin Lambert said he was not surprsied by the result, he had expected the Lib Dems would lose control and had predicted to Rochdale Online the day before the election that they would be reduced to 27 seats through Labour and Conservative gains, and in fact they were reduced to 26.

The Lib Dems, however, remain the largest group on the council and Councillor Lambert said: "The electorate have not given us a mandate to lead the council but they have also rejected the Liberal Democrats."

Asked if Labour would entertain another coalition with the Conservatives, Councillor Lambert said: "We will not enter into a coalition with any party, we will judge each proposal and take each decision on merit."

Councillor Lambert also said the Labour Group would propose taking a drastic axe to the cabinet structure reducing it to five places plus the leader. He added: "I look forward to negotiations with the other two parties over the next week."

Lib Dem leader Irene Davidson was unavailable for comment at the time of publication.