Labour landslide

Delighted Labour leader Colin Lambert congratulates Liam O'Rourke on his victory in North Heywood

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The biggest win for any party since Rochdale Metropolitan Borough came into existence in 1974 saw a resurgent local Labour party win 17 of the 20 seats being contested, giving them 42 councillors and leaving the once mighty Rochdale Liberal Democrats with just 5 councillors.

All the recent defectors from the Liberal Democrats to the Conservatives, Jean Ashworth, Mo Sharif and Peter Evans, lost their seats seeking re-election in Conservative colours.

The Conservatives retained three of the four seats they expected they would, but lost Theresa Fitzsimons in South Middleton to a Labour gain. They now have 13 council seats.

• Results for every ward

Labour party leader Colin Lambert was a very happy and proud man and speaking to Rochdale Online he said: “We would have been happy winning 14 seats, to win 17 is the icing on the cake. It reflects the public’s trust and confidence in the job we have done since taking over running the council. I am particularly pleased given the great difficulty we have faced in implementing the savage cuts imposed by the Tory government.

"The Liberal Democrats have paid the price tonight for propping up a Tory government."

A clearly shell-shocked Liberal Democrat leader Wera Hobhouse said she would need to sleep and consider carefully where she and the Liberal Democrats go from here. In a most refreshing change for a defeated politician, she spoke openly and frankly about the scale of the defeat and how badly the Liberal Democrats had done. She hoped to retain the support of the volunteers who work to support the councillors but said it may prove very hard to motivate them after such a devastating rout.

Conservative leader Ashley Dearnley said: “I am pleased with the result but sad at losing a good councillor in Theresa Fitzsimons. This is inevitable when you are the party of government, you suffer locally. People aren’t really happy with any political party and the low turn out reflects this.”

Two former Labour council leaders are back on the council, Allen Brett in Milnrow and Richard Farnell in Balderstone and Kirkholt.

Richard Farnell’s result was never in doubt but Allen Brett was made to sweat, although he won by a comfortable 150+ it was nip and tuck throughout the count and at the start Irene Davidson was confident she had won and Allen Brett thought he had lost. He said on winning: “I wouldn’t want to go through that again, it was very tough.” Irene Davidson looked a forlorn figure when it dawned on her that her time was up, she was though philosophical saying: “That’s life.”

Richard Farnell said: “I am delighted and stunned, and looking forward to working hard. There is a lot of work to do and I am going to get to it straight away.”

The Borough also has a 19-year-old councillor as young Liam O’Rourke triumphed in North Heywood. He was very eloquent in victory promising to represent all the people of Heywood North. He said: “I have a lot to live up to now, high expectations, but I am keen to get on and represent the people.”