Battling Battye’s back in business

Photo: Picture: ANTHONY MILLER

JOHN BATTYE

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