Candidates revealed in race for ballot box

Reporter: Dawn Marsden
Date published: 10 April 2015


A TOTAL of 100 candidates are fighting for 20 Oldham Council seats, it was revealed yesterday.

Labour, the Liberal Democrats, the Conservatives and UKIP are fielding candidates in all 20 wards. The Green Party is trying to win in every ward except Alexandra, Coldhurst, Failsworth West, Saddleworth South and Waterhead.

The Trade Unionists and Socialists Against Cuts Party is fighting for a seat in Failsworth West and the Respect Party — fronted by George Galloway — is hoping for success in St Mary’s.

Independent candidates are going for glory in Saddleworth West & Lees, Saddleworth North and Waterhead.

Oldham Council is currently Labour-controlled, the party occupying 45 of the 60 seats. Lib-Dems have 10, Conservatives and UKIP two each and there is one independent councillor.

On May 7, Labour will defend 16 seats, the Lib-Dems three and the Conservatives one.

Three councillors — Dave Houle (Labour, Chadderton North), John Dillon (Lib-Dem, Crompton) and Mark Alcock (Lib-Dem, Shaw) — have decided to step down.

It could be all change at the top as council leader Jim McMahon fights to keep his place as a councillor in Failsworth East.

Joe Fitzpatrick, who acted as election agent for former Labour MP Phil Woolas, will stand for UKIP in St James in a re-run of last year’s battle which he lost to Labour’s Angela Cosgrove.

In the General Election, Labour’s Debbie Abrahams is hoping to keep her place in Oldham East and Saddleworth. Peter Klonowski, a UKIP councillor in Saddleworth West and Lees is hoping to steal her place as are Sajjad Hussain (Conservative), Richard Marbrow (Lib-Dem) and Miranda Meadowcroft (Green).

Stalwart Labour MP Michael Meacher is hoping to retain the Oldham West and Royton constituency.

Saddleworth North councillor Garth Harkness is hoping to take his place for the Lib-Dems as are Francis Arbour (UKIP), Kamran Ghafoor (Conservatives) and Simeon Hart (Green).

The General Election count will start from 10pm on Thursday, May 7. The Oldham Council counts take place from 10am the next day followed by the Saddleworth and Shaw & Crompton Parish Councils counts from 2pm onwards.

The Elections Office has a limited number of tickets available for residents who wish to view either of the count processes from the public gallery at the Queen Elizabeth Hall.

For further information — including how to apply for a postal or proxy vote — visit the Oldham Council website at www.oldham.gov.uk/elections or call the Elections Line on 0161-770 4718.

twitter: @DawnMarsdenOC