Make it count!

Reporter: Richard Hooton
Date published: 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.


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