Tory shock at Chadderton loss

LOCAL ELECTIONS 2010

OLDHAM’S Tory group leader Jack Hulme was left reeling after his party lost the only seat it was fighting.

He said it was a huge blow not only to the party but to losing candidate Phil Rogers, who had spent the last six years representing Chadderton North.

Mr Rogers was visibly shaken by the shock news the seat had been snatched by Labour’s Barbara Brownridge.

He lost his hold on the seat by a narrow margin of 275 votes.

Councillor Hulme said: “No-one expected us to lose the seat. We have always regarded Chadderton North as a fairly solid Conservative ward.”

He said the result undoubtedly lay with the Government deciding to call a general election on the same day as the local election, which prompted a far larger turnout than usual.

He said the national party leaders’ debates had energised voters, and the 63.7 per cent turnout in Chadderton North was way above the 38.3 per cent of the 2008 election.

The loss of Chadderton North takes Oldham’s Conservative seats down from six to five.

“It’s a big blow for us, both in terms of numbers of seats on the council, and that we are losing not just a respected colleague but the Chadderton Community Champion as well,” said Councillor Hulme.

“Phil has worked tirelessly, not just for Chadderton North but for Chadderton as a whole and I feel the loss very keenly.

“It was a big shock to him.”

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