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Labour delight at by-election success
Date published: 15 March 2013
IT was a family affair as Labour maintained its grip on Royton South in last night’s by-election.
Marie Bashforth won the seat with 938 votes, ahead of Allan Fish who polled 244 votes for the Conservatives, Liberal Democrat Stephen Barrow on 221 and the Green Party’s Roger Pakeman on 70.
Marie joins her husband, Councillor Steven Bashforth, who has represented the ward since 2003. All three Royton South seats are held by Labour.
The by-election followed the death of Councillor Philip Harrison in December.
Newly-elected Councillor Bashforth said: “I am so thankful to the people of Royton South to show that confidence in me.”
Council leader Jim McMahon said he was “over the moon” at Labour’s latest by-election success.
He said: “We are choosing candidates who are grass-roots campaigners and part of the local community. Marie will be an excellent councillor. She lives in the ward, she socialises in the ward.”
The result was announced at the count at Royton Hall Primary School at 11pm, an hour after the polls closed. The turnout was 17.75 per cent compared with 27.2 per cent in the general council elections last May.
The line up of the council is now: Labour 43, Liberal Democrat 14, Conservative two and one vacant seat following the death of Councillor Dilys Fletcher.
COUNCIL leader Jim McMahon accused the Lib-Dems of plunging Oldham back into the “dark days of politics” with “underhand and misleading” election leaflets.
The leaflets were delivered to 4,300 homes in Royton South ahead of last night’s by-election.
The front says: “A message from Labour Oldham Council Boss Councillor Jim McMahon” and inside it reads “Labour’s Tax Bombshell” with figures stating increases in council tax and the precepts for police, fire, transport and waste collection.
There is also a quote from Councillor McMahon and a plea for voters to elect Lib-Dem candidate Stephen Barrow.
Councillor McMahon said: “It was a deliberate attempt to make it look like it was from me. The Lib-Dem leaflets should be setting out their priorities and letting their policies do the talking, not attacking ours.”
Councillor John McCann, Lib-Dem deputy leader, said: “This is a local election leaflet asking people to vote for Stephen Barrow. This one was just the last in the campaign so if it has unsettled Councillor McMahon, it has done its job.”
Comments
Oh dear Cllr McMahon pot calling kettle comes to mind. Any party has the right to criticise and critique your policies, its called democracy! But it is a bit rich when it was your party in Oldham who had an MP disqualified for the first time in 90+ years for misleading election literature. You scaremonger with the NHS, Fire, Welfare and Policing and criticise policies of the opposition& govt party/s so don't pull that one.
“underhand and misleading” according to mcmahon!
so no increases then at all then jim? or is this just one in many of his comments that are more underhand and misleading.
what has been misleading is what the actual figures for the council tax increases. started off at 3.5% the 3% then its now down to 2%. precepts or not.
even now at 2% it should trigger the referendum. but labour have chose to ignore the rule.
meaning central government will punish ombc further because of their incompetance!
The lady won with approx 11% of the voters qualified to vote, 89% of the voters
able to vote did not vote for her, not a very good victory for local labour policies.
Couple of things stand out here "it was a family affair as Labour maintained its grip" and joins her husband, Councillor Steven Bashforth, who has represented the ward since 2003. All three Royton South seats are held by Labour" - How much longer are Oldham residents going to allow this to go on !! Not only Labour having a GRIP on you but standing people who are related to other Councillors ?? sheesh they're are going to monitor each other and disagree arent they ? NOT !!
Only 17.7% turnout to vote. Not a lot of confidence there.
I'll vote Labour the first time any of their Oldham MP's say that the first considerations Oldham people need to make of themselves before having children is: Can I/we afford to have a family without instantly requiring the state to pick up the bill via benefits and if I cannot I should wait until circumstances change before having children. Poverty & immigration self-perpetuates under the purposeful policies of parties who's primary voters are the poor or/and minorities. Sad reality of Oldham.
As a test of public opinion about how Labour is doing in Oldham and Royton at a time when it has just implemented a rise in the Council Tax, it seems a fairly reassuring result about its thrust to try to secure improvements for the Borough and for Royton in particular.
That's funny Jim the quote in side said"if residents don't like the 3.5% council tax rise they can vote Labour out at the next election" role on next year I when we can all vote We can all see now why you did not want to reduce from 60 to 40
Well mr hibbert was right for once in his letter the other week , it's not what you know but who you know
People are right, it wasn't a great turn out, but these things never are.
What is more damning than the fact she only polled approx 11% of the electorate in this area or approx 66% of the toal vote, the tories and Libs Dems combined only polled approx 30% of the total vote or approx 5% of the electorate. Twice as bad or 2 x better???
I have seen a lot worse leaflets from the Labour party come through my letterbox
Not a surprise at the result but looking at the numbers at the change since May 2012
On number of votes: Labour 988 votes LESS, Tories 300 votes LESS, Lib Dem 87 MORE , Green 70 MORE
The turnout was lower but the change in the % vote share:
Labour -6.1%, Cons -7.7%, Lib Dem +5.0% , Green +4.8%
Councillor McMahon's comments seem a little strange if you look at the leaflet on the front page it seems quite clear who the leaflet is from and asks you to vote Lib Dems. Arn't they the opposition?
correction: Lib Dem +9.0% so should read:
The turnout was lower but the change in the % vote share:
Labour -6.1%, Cons -7.7%, Lib Dem +9.0% , Green +4.8%
Labour won - simples
Get used to it, because even Tory central office is now admitting they're not going to win the next election.
The people of Oldham will never change, they are like sheep when election time comes around. Labour knows this, they can do and say whatever they like.
So what's new! It's common practice for the Lib Dems to play dirty at elections in Oldham.
Watcher. I think you will find that labour are past masters of the dirty.take off your blinkers and have a good look round. 3.5% increase and no reference to the people of Oldham. Now that dirty
TWO lots of attendance allowances in ONE house!
Perhaps they can fund a lollipop woman for Royton.
Another one on Labour Oldham's never ending gray train. Welcome to the new Bisto Kid!
%0 plus years of almost unfettered Labour control - would that be the reason the town can't run a bath?
I totally agree with pessimist it's about time the government stopped paying so much in child tax credits couples & single mums are taking advantage of the system in order to avoid going to work.
@Shaw Gawbie: Please explain to me the alternatives that the people of Oldham have when it comes to local elections.
In my ward there have been elections when I have a choice of Labour or Lib Dems, and both are as bad as each other!
We don't even get the opportunity of a 'protest' vote; UKIP, Independent, Tory....hardly ever appear on my ballot slip. This could explain the low turnout as there isn;t the incentive for anyone to vote who doesn't want Labour or Lib Dem.
@Barros Are you suggesting that the last minute leaflet on behalf of Lib Dem candidate Barrow S did not seek to mislead by failing to indicate that the increases caused by the precepting authorities were within the the Oldham CT increase?
JMTS What they should have done is look at the job description of the vacancy left by your illustrious Labour leader in Middleton in Feb 2013. It would be harder for Labour to justify answers regarding questions asked about working for a rival town in a position that required attracting retail trade away from Oldham, Rochdale & Manchester.
@A G H Unfettered Labour control? 2000 to 2003 Lib Dem control. 2003 to 2008 Labour control 2008 to 2011 Lib Dam control. 2011 on Labour control.
@MarkH. You could always stand as an independent. Don't complain about a lack of choice when you have the right to be one.
@pessimist Be an optimist. Think how much McMahon's professional experience can help him in trying to rebuild Oldham' s town centre.
JMTS (1) JM's job was a conflict of interests plain & simple. (2) You can't rebuild a town centre by redesignating the area you consider central around your own council buildings, building projects, educational campuses, libraries & galleries whilst the traditional retail centre remains destitute, decrepit & in constant decline. Now 8 Greater Manchester towns have announced a joint Town Centres project to co-ordinate attracting new investment. CO-OP with rival town centres just a ludicrous idea.
By JMTS @ 18/03/2013 18:31:06
JMTS -why have you only gone back to 2003?
Go back to the fifties then go forward to present day.
It must be at least 50 years of Labour control.
I can't list all their catastrophies - there isn't enough space. I repeat unfettered and inept. They do have one talent - running out of other people's money!
Hi. Shaw Gawbie @ 15/03/2013 22:43:40 comment quote ''The people of Oldham will never change, they are like sheep when election time comes'' says it all well said. It is no good talking in pubs (what pubs remain!!) complaining about this and that - voting for lab/lib/cons is voting for the same kick in the teeth (and not voting is WORSE or the SAME as voting for the above). Im not sure if its 'free' to stand as a local councilor but some people need to as independents A.S.A.P
AGH I think JMTS has proved there hasn't been a sustained period of labour control in Oldham so think you would need to assign some of your so called catastrophes to the Lib Dems as well. If you check the last two years Council accounts you will also see that there has been no overspend so they have not run out of money.
JMTS and BRAMBLE
Taken from Wikipedia and I think my memory is longer the following:
Since the council's formation it has generally been under the control of the Labour Party, with periods of no overall control, two years of Conservative control, and one of Liberal Democrat control. Since 2011, the Labour Party has had overall control.
I'll substitute 'unfettered' with the words 'LION'S SHARE'
of CATASTROPHES.
- it's all there folks.
AGH don't want to argue with the trustworthy source of Wikipedia but don't think there has only been one period of Lib Dem control!!! JMTS has quoted two periods of their control in the past 13 years??? Would love o know what you would recognise as doing a good job considering the council under current administration has been voted most improved council in the country, has best finance team in the country at closing accounts and has delivered a balanced budget every year despite £100m of cuts
I have just looked on Wikipedia and it says only one period of Conservative control and as first elections were only in 1973 then Labour have had nowhere near 50 years of control, in fact it's less than 40!!! Another example of someone on here badmouthing another political party without the true facts
Did we not have a council before 1973?
From 1953-68 Labour had 15 unbroken years to 1968 and 3 more 1971-74. !980-94 14 unbroken years. 1973-76, 1995-2000, 20003-7, 2011-2013 produced 15 more in total. Only 8 years had no overall control. So guys which ever way you cut it Labour has had at least 47 years in control over the past 60 years. Check it out guys. The towns ills can be laid firmly at the red feet.
Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council didn't exist until 73-74. Before that it was separate county districts. Labour must have done something to continually get voted in? What ills are you referring too that are not linked o wider national factors? I notice you have ignored the positive things mentioned about current administration
Have Your Say
Lib Dems sinking lower than the Titanic
By Mollythefrog @ 15/03/2013 13:19:58