Lib Dems capture another Heywood seat

Lib Dem councillor Peter Rush looks on as the North Heywood count begins to favour the Lib Dems

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There was excitement at Heywood Civic Centre during the election count as the Lib Dems captured a seat from Labour and the township chairman launched an attack on his party’s national policies.

The Labour group appeared confident of retaining all three Heywood seats when the count kicked off but Lib Dem joy was abounding when it became clear that they were looking comfortable for victory in North Heywood.

Despite retaining his seat in West Heywood, Councillor Colin Lambert hit out at the national Labour government for the party's struggle in the local elections.

The Heywood Township chairman told Rochdale Online: “I’m a firm believer that local elections should be fought on local issues but I think people in the country have voted based on some unpopular decisions by national government. Our candidates fought a hard campaign in all three wards but the local public has decided to give the government a good kicking.

“It was clear throughout our campaign that we would be hit hard on the 10p tax decision rather than focusing on local issues such as hospitals and the closure of baby units which remains and issue in Heywood.

“I will not give up now or in the future as a local politician telling national politicians what things are like on the street.

"The public of Heywood clearly feel that the House of Commons has become a vacuum village that is listening to no-one.”

MP for Heywood & Middleton Jim Dobbin was on hand as the results came in, and he too felt that voting in the local elections had been based on national grievances. He said: “We were hoping to return all three seats so it’s a bit of a disappointment. I think people have voted on national issues in a local election, people tend to mix the two.”

There was plenty of back-slapping by the Lib Dems when the result was announced; Malcolm Bruce claimed the North Heywood vacated by Brian Davies, who did not stand. Mr Bruce won the seat by 137 votes from Labour candidate Susan Coates.

The result means that the Lib Dems have won all three North Heywood seats from Labour in the last three years, as party leader Alan Taylor was quick to point out. He said: “We are delighted to have a hat-trick of wins in Heywood North; a seat that until recently was safe for Labour.”

Councillor Bruce said: “We are like the three Lib Dem musketeers now in Heywood. I’m looking forward to working hard in the ward and getting things done.”

It was not all good news for the Lib Dems however. They still have some way to go to capture any seats outside of the North ward, as evidenced by Linda Robinson’s comfortable victory in Hopwood Hall and Lib Dem candidate Harry Boota certainly hoped to perform better than his near-1000 vote defeat.

“It was a big deficit to pull back and I would have done very well to win, but as it is I am very disappointed with the majority achieved by the Labour candidate,” he said.

Councillor Robinson said: “I was nervous because I never take anything for granted but I’ve been a councillor for nine years and I want to carry on the way I have been doing. I will be starting again first thing in the morning.

"I would like to thank all those who have voted for me; I’ve made a lot of friends over the years.”