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Make it count!
Reporter: Richard Hooton
Date online: 06 May 2010
ELECTION 2010
Future in your hands as double voting begins
VOTERS in Oldham flocked to polling booths today for what’s been billed the closest and most important general election of a generation.
Residents will also be choosing the future of Oldham Council with Labour looking to snatch back control from the Lib-Dems.
With polls predicting a hung parliament, every vote counts before Oldham’s 128 polling stations close at 10pm.
Turnout was down at the last general election in 2005, with 53.5 per cent of eligible voters turning out at Oldham West and Royton (-4.29 per cent) and 57.5 per cent at Oldham East and Saddleworth (-3.65 per cent).
It remains to be seen whether scandals such as MPs expense abuses or highlights like the historic TV leadership debates have turned off voters further or inspired them to have their say.
Party officials and volunteers spent yesterday frantically canvassing in a bid to convince the great undecided.
Labour’s Oldham stronghold is under threat. Immigration Minister Phil Woolas is aiming to make it four wins since seizing Oldham East and Saddleworth in 1997 — but with a majority of just 3,590 it’s a key marginal seat for the resurgent Lib-Dems and he would be a major scalp for their candidate Elwyn Watkins. Conservative Kashif Ali could also take key votes.
Michael Meacher has held Oldham West and Royton since 1970 and is battling for his 11th election victory. Opponents Mark Alcock for the Lib-Dems and Tory Kamran Ghafoor will be looking for a large swing to wipe out his 10,454 majority.
In Ashton, which covers Failsworth, Labour candidate David Heyes has a huge majority of nearly 14,000.
In the local elections a third of the council’s 60 seats are being fought over by 74 candidates with power finely balanced. The current constitution is 30 Lib-Dems, 22 Labour, six Conservatives and two independents.
The Lib-Dems are aiming to gain overall control. But Labour has brought back some familiar faces — including former Mayor John Battye, Hugh McDonald, Phil Harrison and Joe Fitzpatrick — in an bid to turn the tide.
Four cabinet members, Mohib Uddin (regeneration), Lynne Thompson (finance), Rod Blyth (people and communities) and John McCann (leisure and housing), are fighting to keep their seat.
The outcome has already been decided at Saddleworth’s Friezland Primary School - in a bit of educational fun.
Year 5 and 6 pupils have run their own election campaign for the last two weeks. There was a candidate for four parties and supporters studied election material and TV debates before producing a manifesto, campaign poster, speeches, flags and badges.
The whole school voted and in a major shock for the traditional parties the winner was ... the Green Party!
The count for the local elections does not begin until tomorrow. Results will appear first on the Chronicle website, www.oldham-chronicle.co.uk, with in-depth analysis and reaction in Monday’s paper.
What will you make of Election 2010?
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:: Catch up with the candidates at www.oldham-chronicle.co.uk/news-features/elections/
Comments
When I arrived at my polling station I was greeted with a group of men wearing blue rosettes and giving out political literature supporting the conservative candidate.I told them they were in clear breach of the representation of the people act that forbids political canvassing and leafletting outside a polling station.I am however glad to report that the police have since been and moved them away,I only hope that the police and the powers that be keep a keen eye on these kind of activities.
Malcolm, the same colour Rosettes were camped outside the entrance to St Saviours church polling station in Shaw at lunch time.
Some of the 'Green' children at Friezland primary will probably be sent to Hulme Grammar where, after 7 years of 'education', will come out as prospective Conservative candidates.
So much for a so called democracy is all i can say. Went to vote first thing this morning in Shaw and i was shocked to see that on the parliamentary ballot paper there was just 3 candidates! Labour, Tories and the Lib Dems. I feel somewhat cheated and was tempted to spoil my ballot. Upon my inquiry as why it seems that the so called lesser parties can not afford to have representatives in some areas which i find ridiculous. everything is about money rather than democracy.
Flake - Tosh
Aerorossi - Everything costs
Aerorossi. Do you have £500 spare to get your name on the ballot paper? No, me neither. That's how much it costs to be a candidate and you lose that if you don't get 5% of the votes. It's not free to be on there.
I'm going to be particularly interested in the voter turn out this time. There's 46 million (or so) registered voters in the UK. Only approx 61% voted in the last general election & I'm quite keen to see if all the fury over expenses etc has made people more interested in politics & willing to vote.
Very interesting to see today that Woolas has gone all out to mobilise the Muslim vote. huge activity everywhere in Glodwick, Westwood, Clarksfield and Coppice. Cars driving round with loudspeakers, exit pollsters and posters in number.Nothing anywhere else in oldham east & Saddleworth though. Strange how the Immigration Minister is relying hugely on this bloc vote to save his skin. Surely a conflict of interest and a real question about what actual changes Woolas has made.
i hope we all voted last night and it was a good local vote
all the best to the local mps
hope they do their best to get back into their local areas
Have Your Say
Labour will no 'snatch control' from the Lib Dems, because the Lib Dems are not in control! The people in control, Charlie Parker and his exec are the people in control, and the councillors have to follow what they 'advise' (tell) them to vote for.
We cannot vote to remove or elect any of the real people in control, and as such it is a sham of an election, voting in it will make no difference at all.
Postal voting and fraud will count for more in the general election, it's not worth bothering.
By Flake @ 06/05/2010 13:14:31