2024 Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council election

Last updated
2024 Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council election
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←  2023 2 May 2024 (2024-05-02)2026 →
20 out of 60 seats to Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council
31 seats needed for a majority
 First partySecond partyThird party
  No image wide.svg No image wide.svg No image wide.svg
LeaderArooj ShahHoward Sykes
Party Labour Independent Liberal Democrats
Last election32 seats, 46.5%4 seats, 14.3%10 seats, 17.7%
Seats before31810
Seats won783
Seats after27149
Seat changeDecrease2.svg 4Increase2.svg 6Decrease2.svg 1
Popular vote17,17822,6988,401
Percentage29.1%38.4%14.2%
SwingDecrease2.svg 17.4%Increase2.svg 24.1%Decrease2.svg 3.5%
 Fourth partyFifth party
  No image wide.svg No image wide.svg
LeaderGraham Sheldon
Party Conservative Failsworth Independent Party
Last election11 seats, 17.6%3 seats, 2.1%
Seats before83
Seats won20
Seats after82
Seat changeSteady2.svgDecrease2.svg 1
Popular vote7,7311,005
Percentage13.1%1.7%
SwingDecrease2.svg 4.5%Decrease2.svg 0.4%
Oldham UK ward map 2024.svg
Winner of each seat at the 2024 Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council election
Leader before election

Arooj Shah
Labour

Leader after election

Arooj Shah
Labour
No overall control

The 2024 Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council election took place on Thursday 2 May 2024, alongside other local elections in the United Kingdom. One third of the 60 members of Oldham Council in Greater Manchester were elected. The election resulted in Labour losing overall control of the council, with a net loss of 4 seats. Despite this, Labour maintains the largest share of seats, with 27 of the 60 councillors, and managed to form a minority administration after the election.

Contents

The local Labour Party leader, Arooj Shah, denied that the conflict in Gaza was a major reason for Labour's loss, saying that "we've asked for an immediate ceasefire right from the start". [1] Despite Shah's claim, The Guardian reported that Labour's stance on the conflict could sway many Muslim voters. [2] This could explain Labour's poor performance in Oldham, where a quarter of the population identify as Muslim, [3] compared to just 6.5% nationally. [4]

Following the election, the Liberal Democrats, Conservatives and some of the other councillors attempted to remove the Labour leader and administration from office. They failed to do so by one vote, after two independents voted with Labour and three others abstained. Labour therefore continued to run the council, but as a minority administration. [5]

Background

The Labour Party have governed Oldham for most of its history. They held a majority on the council from its creation in 1973 to 1994, when they lost control against the national trend. [6] They regained a majority the following year, but lost control to the Liberal Democrats in 2000. Labour regained control in 2003, before losing their majority in 2006. [6] Labour again won a majority in 2011, and have formed majority administrations since then, albeit with reduced margins.

The 2023 election was the first election on the current ward boundaries; as a result, all seats were up for election. Labour won 32 seats with 46.5% of the vote, the Liberal Democrats won 10 with 17.7%, the Conservatives won 11 with 17.6%, the Failsworth Independent Party won 3 with 2.1%, and independents won 4 with 14.3%. The 2024 election was for seats held by councillors elected by the smallest number of votes in each ward; [7] Labour held 12 seats, the Liberal Democrats held 4, the Conservatives held 3, and the Failsworth Independent Party held 1. [8]

Previous council composition

After 2023 election Before 2024 election [9] After 2024 election
PartySeatsPartySeatsPartySeats
Labour 32 Labour 31 Labour 27
Liberal Democrats 10 Liberal Democrats 10 Liberal Democrats 9
Conservative 11 Conservative 8 Conservative 8
Failsworth Independent Party 3 Failsworth Independent Party 3 Failsworth Independent Party 2
Independent 4 Independent 8 Independent 14

Changes 2023–2024:

Results

2024 Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council election
PartyThis electionFull councilThis election
SeatsNetSeats %OtherTotalTotal %VotesVotes %+/−
  Labour 7Decrease2.svg 535.0202745.017,17829.1–17.4
  Independent 8Increase2.svg 840.061423.322,69838.4+24.1
  Liberal Democrats 3Decrease2.svg 115.06915.08,40114.2–3.5
  Conservative 2Decrease2.svg 110.06813.37,73113.1–4.5
  Failsworth Independent Party 0Decrease2.svg 10.0223.31,0051.7–0.4
  Green 0Steady2.svg0.0000.01,0241.7N/A
  Reform 0Steady2.svg0.0000.06391.1N/A
 Northern Heart0Steady2.svg0.0000.02120.4–0.8
 National Housing Party0Steady2.svg0.0000.01730.3+0.2

Ward results

An asterisk denotes an incumbent councillor seeking re-election.

Alexandra

Alexandra [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Zaheer Ali 1,494 50.5 N/A
Labour Ghazala Rana90330.5−29.2
Independent Carol Hardie1575.3N/A
Liberal Democrats Martin Dinoff1354.6−6.6
Northern HeartAnne Taylor943.2−7.1
Green Andrea Chaverra Valencia933.1N/A
Conservative Md Nazrul Chowdhury842.8−3.2
Majority
Turnout 2,96038.99
Independent gain from Labour Swing

Chadderton Central

Chadderton Central [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Elaine Taylor* 954 33.6 −19.7
Conservative Mohammed Razon93533.0+6.7
Independent Lisa Roddy2438.6N/A
Independent Irfat Shajahan2217.8N/A
Independent Peter Brown2137.5N/A
Green Daniel Clayton1655.8N/A
Liberal Democrats Malik Abdul812.9−2.7
Northern HeartRob Vance250.9−7.4
Majority
Turnout 2,83735.76
Labour hold Swing

Chadderton North

Chadderton North [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Co-op Eddie Moores* 1,383 48.9 +2.3
Conservative Moudud Ahmed82429.2−8.7
Liberal Democrats Dominic Cadman40114.2+2.0
Independent Mohammed Alam2187.7N/A
Majority
Turnout 2,82633.81
Labour hold Swing

Chadderton South

Chadderton South [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Holly Harrison* 1,127 45.3 −9.9
Conservative Karl Bardsley59724.0+7.0
Reform Andy Clare35914.4N/A
Independent Mohammed Ali27210.9N/A
Liberal Democrats Michael Scholes1325.3−6.1
Majority
Turnout 2,48728.1
Labour hold Swing

Coldhurst

Coldhurst [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Montaz Azad 2,304 54.7 +12.9
Labour Ruji Surjan*1,32931.5−14.0
Liberal Democrats Rachel Pendlebury1934.6−1.1
Independent Mustafa Mustak1393.3+0.5
Green Sheraz Gondal1363.2N/A
Conservative Muhammed Dara1132.7−0.9
Majority
Turnout 4,21443.49
Independent gain from Labour Swing

Crompton

Crompton [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Diane Williamson* 1,180 44.0 +0.2
Independent Lee Navesey89533.4+3.8
Labour David Barker43116.1−3.6
Conservative Michele Stockton1736.5−6.7
Majority
Turnout 2,67934.41
Liberal Democrats hold Swing

Failsworth East

Failsworth East [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Co-op Ken Rustidge 731 33.1 −10.3
Failsworth Independent Party Lucia Rea*71232.2−12.1
Independent Catherine Charnock62028.1N/A
Conservative Foysal Chowdhury1044.7−7.9
Liberal Democrats Barbara Beeley421.9−9.7
Majority
Turnout 2,20928.07
Labour Co-op gain from Failsworth Independent Party Swing

Failsworth West

Failsworth West [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Mark Wilkinson 1,104 47.9 +13.2
Labour Co-op Kyle Phythian77433.6−5.8
Failsworth Independent Party Jane Cashinella-Vaughan29312.7−6.2
Conservative Md Mostakim Chaudhary703.0−5.8
Liberal Democrats Lynne Thompson371.6−3.3
Independent Majid Khan261.1N/A
Majority
Turnout 2,30429.46
Independent gain from Labour Swing

Hollinwood

Hollinwood [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Naseem Aslam 846 33.4 −4.2
Independent Muhammad Irfan*81232.1−6.3
National Housing PartyJohn Lawrence1736.8−1.4
Conservative Muhammed Alom1726.8−31.6
Independent Ewan Edge1465.8N/A
Independent Ian Whitehead1395.5−3.3
Green Jason Bromley1325.2N/A
Liberal Democrats Roger Blackmore1134.5−3.5
Majority
Turnout 2,53329.37
Labour gain from Conservative Swing

Medlock Vale

Medlock Vale [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Co-op Umar Nasheen* 1,374 44.9 −18.6
Independent Shamas Altaf98732.3N/A
Liberal Democrats Shona Farnworth3009.8−0.2
Independent Muhammad Yasir2267.4N/A
Conservative Akhtar Hussain1725.6−0.2
Majority
Turnout 3,05935.68
Labour hold Swing

Royton North

Royton North [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Lewis Quigg* 1,458 50.3 +8.4
Labour Clint Phythian1,03735.8−1.3
Green Miranda Meadowcroft2318.0N/A
Liberal Democrats Jeffrey Garner1746.0±0.0
Majority
Turnout 2,90034.2
Conservative hold Swing

Royton South

Royton South [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Jade Hughes 1,200 50.4 +14.3
Labour Steven Bashforth*87736.8−3.9
Liberal Democrats Tom Penketh1556.5−2.1
Green Jim Stidworthy1516.3N/A
Majority
Turnout 2,38331.44
Independent gain from Labour Swing

Saddleworth North

Saddleworth North [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Garth Harkness* 1,279 41.7 +6.8
Labour Hannah Roberts77925.4−3.1
Conservative Stuart Pyefinch63020.6−4.9
Independent Christopher Marshall37612.3N/A
Majority
Turnout 3,06439.72
Liberal Democrats hold Swing

Saddleworth South

Saddleworth South [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Max Woodvine* 1,107 31.7 −4.6
Liberal Democrats Amy Wrigley82123.5−8.0
Labour Co-op Dominic Wall80923.1−3.4
Independent Paul Errock64218.4N/A
Green Fesl Reza-Khan1163.3N/A
Majority
Turnout 3,49541.6
Conservative hold Swing

Saddleworth West and Lees

Saddleworth West and Lees [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Mark Kenyon* 1,603 55.5 +3.9
Independent Paul Shilton67523.4+0.5
Labour Dave Barter46816.2+0.7
Conservative Mujibur Rahman1414.9+1.1
Majority
Turnout 2,88735.08
Liberal Democrats hold Swing

Shaw

Shaw [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Lisa Navesey 1,011 42.1 +4.7
Liberal Democrats Hazel Gloster*96140.0+1.0
Labour Stephen Hewitt35614.8−1.5
Conservative Md Yahhia Qurashi763.2+0.3
Majority 50
Turnout 2,40432.66
Independent gain from Liberal Democrats Swing

St James'

St James' [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Co-op Josh Charters* 757 36.3 +1.7
Conservative Christopher McManus62830.1−2.9
Independent Amoy Lindo55426.5+2.2
Liberal Democrats Roger Hindle1497.1+1.6
Majority
Turnout 2,08826.35
Labour Co-op hold Swing

St Mary's

St Mary's [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Aisha Kouser 2,769 66.7 +27.7
Labour Ali Aqeel Salamat*1,36732.9−12.4
Liberal Democrats Mohammed Hussain1202.9−2.0
Conservative Khaled Ahmed1042.5−0.8
Majority
Turnout 4,15248.20
Independent gain from Labour Swing

Waterhead

Waterhead [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Naveed Chowhan 1,221 38.9 N/A
Labour Co-op Ros Birch*87627.9−17.8
Liberal Democrats Joe Beeston2989.5−4.9
Reform Jack Davies2808.9N/A
Independent Stuart Allsopp2016.4−6.2
Conservative Ruhid Chowdhury1685.4−25.6
Northern HeartPaul Taylor933.0−9.0
Majority
Turnout 3,13735.31
Independent gain from Labour Swing

Werneth

Werneth [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Nyla Ibrahim* 2,362 55.8 +0.6
Independent Amjad Ali1,47134.7N/A
Liberal Democrats Hamza Uddin2275.4−29.0
Conservative Mohammed Miah1754.1−5.5
Majority
Turnout 4,23545.62
Independent gain from Labour Swing

References

  1. ↑ Sit as part of the Oldham Group, which is not registered as a political party.
  1. ↑ "Labour loses control of Oldham Council but holds 6 others". BBC News.
  2. ↑ "'Trust is lost': Muslim voters unhappy with Labour's stance on Gaza war". The Guardian.
  3. ↑ "How life has changed in Oldham: Census 2021". ONS.
  4. ↑ "Religion by age and sex, England and Wales: Census 2021". ONS.
  5. ↑ Hall, Charlotte (22 May 2024). "Labour narrowly retain control of Oldham Council". BBC News. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  6. 1 2 "Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council Election Results 1973-2012" (PDF). Elections Centre. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  7. ↑ "The Oldham (Electoral Changes) Order 2022", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, SI 2022/778, retrieved 10 April 2024
  8. ↑ Lawlor, Kent (5 May 2023). "All the results from the Oldham Council elections". The Oldham Times. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  9. ↑ "Your Councillors by Party". Oldham Council. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  10. ↑ Tooth, Jack (26 November 2023). "All change on Oldham Council after suspension of councillors". The Oldham Times. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  11. ↑ Hall, Charlotte (22 January 2024). "Independent councillor changes allegiances". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  12. ↑ Hall, Charlotte (9 April 2024). "Two Labour councillors in Oldham defect weeks before May elections over Gaza". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 "STATEMENT OF PERSONS NOMINATED". Oldham Council. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
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