Hudson saved

John Hudson (centre), survives to become Mayor next year

THE Conservatives were left with just two councillors on Oldham Council after a disappointing night.

The Tories one victor, Councillor John Hudson, was left relieved to survive, especially as he will now become deputy Mayor, then Mayor next year.

Councillor Hudson said: “I’m so proud that the electorate have bucked the trend and given me the chance for the mayoralty.

“They came good tonight. I’m absolutely over the moon. I think it might be because they wanted me to be Mayor.”

Three Oldham political heavyweights went head to head in the battle for Saddleworth South.

Councillor Hudson on 1,151 votes defeated Labour’s Joe Fitzpatrick (746) and Lib-Dem Brian Lord on 949.

Leader Councillor Jack Hulme, at his last election count before stepping down after four years as a councillor, said he feared a low turnout would prove bad for the Tories — and was proved right. He said voter apathy was due to disillusion with politics.

The Chadderton North councillor had already declared his intention to step down at the age of 74 to let younger politicians move the party forward.



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