Labour increase majority on Rochdale Council

Councillor Cecile Biant (Labour Spotland & Falinge) with her husband, Deputy Mayor, Councillor Surinder Biant following the news she had retained her seat

Labour increased its majority on Rochdale Council, gaining two seats and losing one.

Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, Councillor Peter Williams said the result is a pleasing one for the party.

He said: “We have seen extremely good results across the borough, in particular in Heywood and Middleton where we have seen off UKIP and retained this as a solid Labour area. We are very pleased with the results overall.”

Labour's two gains were Shah Wazir in Healey, who beat former Conservative councillor Andrew Neilson, and Ali Ahmed in Central, who took the seat from Rochdale First councillor Farooq Ahmed.

Councillor Wazir said: “Thanks to all of my team who have worked really hard over the past few months and to the local residents who have shown me a great amount of support and spread my message. I am now looking forward to serving the people of Healey. It’s been a great campaign and all of the candidates have worked hard and contributed well to get such a good result across the borough.”

In Kingsway, where Karen Danczuk stood down after four years as a councillor, Lynne Brosnan held the seat comfortably for Labour. Speaking to Rochdale Online she said: “We worked it out and it’s been eight or nine years since I last stood. I’ve had a rest and now it’s good to be back.”

Heywood and Middleton remained resolutely Labour, despite the efforts of UKIP, who did not win a single council seat.

Councillor Susan Emmott, who defended her seat in Hopwood Hall, said: “I am feeling absolutely elated. I’d like to say a big thank you to the people of Hopwood for all the support I have had, I will continue to do my best for you.”

Councillor Phillip Burke retained his seat in West Middleton. He said: “At the moment I feel fantastic, Langley came out in full force to support me once again. It was much appreciated and I can’t thank them enough. It’s a great feeling to win by such a massive majority.”

Middleton North saw Sara Rowbotham elected. She said: “All I can say is that I am chuffed to bits. I’ve been going around speaking to people on their doorsteps and found out how important people’s individual issues are. Now I have won, I’m looking forward to stepping up to the challenge of resolving them.”

Councillor Rowbotham added: "My first job is to go back round and talk to the residents on their doors again, but in more depth this time. There were lots of different issues people had and I want to get the root of the problem. Being born in Middleton gives me a good connection to the people and I want to feel like a neighbour to everyone. I don’t want to jump in and start changing things as I am new to the council. As an example there are currently three food banks in Middleton, which is an appalling situation and needs to change, which I am hoping I can do.”

Though they lost Andrew Neilson in Healey, the Conservative party did hold four seats with Rina Paloucci elected in Wardle and West Littleborough, Peter Winkler re-elected in Norden, Ann Stott re-elected in Littleborough Lakeside and Patricia Sullivan re-elected in Bamford.

Leader of the Conservative Party, Ashley Dearnley said: “I am delighted Rina won and won so well. She will be an asset to the party and to the council.

“I am very sad to lose Andrew, he was an excellent councillor and a big loss to the group. Unfortunately Healey has lost a councillor who works extremely hard for them, fulfilling his duties for all the right reasons. He was an asset that will be greatly missed.”

Former councillor Andy Kelly was re-elected in Milnrow and Newhey beating Labour's now former councillor Martin Rodgers. Lib Dem, Mr Kelly lost his seat last year to Labour but won it back this time around.

He said: “I am very, very pleased to be back and to have won back the seat for Milnrow and Newhey. I have had a fantastic team working hard for the past year. We have campaigned hard and I want to thank the people who have voted and supported us. I am very happy to be back.”

UKIP had 20 candidates across the borough but failed to gain a single seat. However, the party did come second in 14 constituencies out of 20.

The make up of the council is now:

Labour – 47
Conservatives – 10
Liberal Democrats – 2
Rochdale First - 1

View the full results at:

http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/elections/election-results/23