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Battling Battye’s back in business
Reporter: Reporting team: DAWN MARSDEN, BEATRIZ AYALA & MARI
Date online: 10 May 2010
LOCAL ELECTIONS 2010
FORMER Oldham mayor John Battye is back in the council chamber after storming to victory in Failsworth West.
The veteran politician and former Labour group leader lost his seat on Oldham Council 10 years ago in the Liberal Democrat landslide.
But he is back with a vengeance after deciding to stand for election less than six weeks ago.
Councillor Battye stepped in at the last minute when the Labour candidate, 22-year-old Nina Eden, withdrew for personal reasons.
He said after his election victory: “I am back after a decade of hibernation, I am like the dormant volcano in Iceland, and I am looking forward to getting back on to the debating floor in the council chamber.
With years of political experience under his belt, including 14 years as council leader, Councillor Battye is a Labour party stalwart who was sure to win the Failsworth West seat.
He said it was a traditional Labour seat, having fallen into the hands of the Liberal Democrats for just two years since 1974.
The returning councillor worked at the Royal Oldham Hospital for 34 years, in charge of the blood transfusion lab, and is a former non-executive member of Pennine Acute Trust, which runs the hospital. He works part-time for Immigration Minister Phil Woolas, who narrowly clung onto his seat as MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth in the general election.
His aim for the future includes seeing an end to Failsworth as a place where people “drift through” as they travel from Manchester to Oldham, and badging it as a gateway to the town.
Councillor Battye’s return to the public face of local politics was part of a swoop which saw five Labour stalwarts back in the council chamber.
They were Hugh McDonald, who returned to represent Alexandra ward.
He took the seat from Independent Asaf Ali, who got little support from voters, with the Lib-Dems and Tories both attracting more than his 631 votes.
Hollinwood ward saw the return of Jean Stretton, who won the seat for Labour from the Liberal Democrat’s Stephen Barrow.
She said: “I’m very pleased and grateful for the electorate in Hollinwood for the opportunity to represent them.
“You never know in Hollinwood, it is always a closely-fought seat.”
And Phil Harrison also returned to take Royton South’s Liberal Democrat seat for Labour.
Barbara Dawson returned to Oldham Council in Failsworth East, where she retained the seat for Labour after Peter Dean stood down.
She said: “I can’t say I was that confident at getting voted in, especially after losing by eight votes last time I stood.
In Chadderton North, Barbara Brownridge pulled off a surprise move when she snatched the seat from Tory Phil Rogers.”
View all the results here
Comments
How is Oldham going to move forward if people keep re-electing old geezers like this?
Maybe 'cos there are no 'young guns' who are up to the job?
Battye says"I am like the dormant volcano in Iceland".Let's hope the cloud stays away from Oldham with him back on the scene!
Battye Back - love him or hate him it is great news for Oldham. He's a man of great ability and that is just what we need in these uncertain times.
Roughyeds watch out, this is the man who promised a new home for rugby was it 10+ years ago and left it to Sykes to provide in less than 10 months.....nuff said.
Just when you thought things might get better .....
I'm sure this geezer said he would never make a comeback might be a sign of things to come more porkies than a pigfarm
Mr Battye I couldn't have put it better myself. A rush of hot air disseminating rubbish in all directions and blighting the lives of thousands.You certainly are.
I hope the people of Failsworth remember the problems Battye caused last time he was on the council. Empty promises about Oldham Rugby - at least the current administration have given them a new home
Now that he is back on the Council, perhaps John Battye will return to his unfinished business of providing the town with a new state-of-the-art sports stadium - the one that he promised when he presided over the sale of the Watersheddings rugby ground all those years ago.
John Cogratulations. I remember the first time you were made a Counicillor you set your stall out and meant business, I thought you had finiahed with it years ago as I had not heard of you as I live abroad. Fight like you always did you are a good councillor.
Dormant volcanoes do nothing. Sounds about right!
Active volcanoes make lots of noise and produce tons of ****! Sounds about right!
Extinct volcanoes should never trouble us again. Sounds about right!
Ist of all welcome back John!! Its been too long.."the old geezers" have been voted back in by the people of Oldham for a reason, they have historically served us well, otherwise they wouldnt have been re-elected! Asfor his "unfinished" business of the new state-of-the-art stadium, it was Richard Knowles who blocked the eventual build, as pointed out a few weeks ago in a letter to the chron from Mr Battye in response to a scathing attack in letter form from Jackie Stanton the LibDem deputy...
You'd do well to get your facts right before throwing accusations at a man who is, and always has been Oldham through and through, and who has always strived to better the town for its residents! Has the 6th Form college not bettered our childrens education??...Mr Battye fought tooth and nail for that! Welcome back John and ignore the Battye bashing, your actions will speak better than words im sure
erm .... No action so far.
Have Your Say
God help Oldham with this lot back on the Council, you thought thing were bad well you haven’t seen any thing yet wonder how long before Batty is leader of the Labour group cant see him playing second fiddle to a little boy just out of shorts can you Jim. don’t think you will even get deputy leader (any good at making Tea?)
By Barros @ 10/05/2010 12:27:07