Love thy Labour
Date published: 11 May 2015
THREE cheers: Labour winners (l-r) Elaine Garry, Failsworth West, Oldham Council leader Jim McMahon, and Jean Stretton, Hollinwood
Lucky Kenderdine, Iram Ramzan, Robbie Gill, Ken Bennett and Richard Hooton
OLDHAM’S Labour supporters are celebrating the party’s retention of the 16 seats it previously held during this year’s council elections.
Council leader Jim McMahon was delighted to keep his seat in Failsworth East and said he was pleased with the party’s results across the board. The party continues to dominate the council chamber with 45 seats and a majority of 35.
“In some wards more than 50 per cent of voters have chosen Labour and we’ve increased our majorities in other areas,” he said.
“We champion local community advocates who want to make a difference for their own community as a local councillor. They are friends and neighbours to voters, reflect their wishes and work hard for the people they represent. I think it is this kind of local support which will secure our place in the future.”
Cabinet member for social care and public health Jenny Harrison held her seat in Alexandra with 1,899 votes and a majority of 1,101 after beating second place Conservative candidate Raja Iqbal (798 votes).
She said: “I’m delighted to have won by a resounding majority — we have worked for every single vote.
“Councillors in Alexandra really represent the people and that has been recognised through the ballot box.”
Other Labour candidates to retain their seats included Councillor Javid Iqbal, who stormed to victory with 3,639 votes, giving him the largest majority of the day, at 3,350.
He said: “I’m overwhelmed — a bit lost for words. Thank you to the voters for putting their trust back in me.”
Councillor Shadab Qumer also held his seat in St Mary’s ward, with 3,164 votes compared with Respect Party candidate Tariq Ullah’s second-place 883.
Councillor Qumer, who won a majority of 2,279, said: “I will do my level best to represent all areas of my ward to the best of my ability. St Mary’s residents know what I have done for the last eight years and rewarded me accordingly.”
Councillor Elaine Garry was “relieved and pleased” as she retained her seat in Failsworth West and said she was looking forward to continuing her work.
Councillor Garry, who received 2,192 votes, said: “I think we are doing a fabulous job in Failsworth and this vote reflects that.”
For Councillor Adrian Alexander his election victory was all the sweeter as it came a year after he underwent chemotherapy for cancer.
Councillor Alexander said: “It is brilliant to be re-elected. It has been a lot of hard work but when people go out and recognise what you have done by voting, it makes it all worthwhile.”
Royton South’s Councillor Steven Bashforth said it is “back to business” after retaining his seat and that he would be making the town’s regeneration “top of the agenda”.
Councillor Bashforth said: “I am quite flattered that the people of Royton have taken the time to go out and vote for me. It has been a lot of hard work and stress but I am overwhelmed with the result and the majority of 1,048.”
Hollinwood councillor Steve Williams was also “so proud” to have been re-elected and thanked the voters while St James Councillor Angela Cosgrove, who won her seat at last year’s elections, said she was “grateful” to the voters and would continue to support people in the area.
Chadderton councillors Eddie Moores and Graham Shuttleworth were both “relieved” to have retained their seats in their wards and cited Labour’s “hard work for the people of Oldham” as the reason for their success.
They were joined by Mohon Ali, a new councillor for the Chadderton North ward, who was elected after former Labour councillor Dave Houle stepped down.
Councillors Montaz Ali Azad (Coldhurst), Kaiser Rehman (Medlock Vale), Peter Dean (Waterhead) and Tony Larkin (Royton North) also retained their seats.
