Saddleworth remained relatively loyal to the Liberal Democrats last night. Despite suffering disappointing results in other parts of the borough and across the country, the party held two of the three Saddleworth seats it was defending on Oldham Council. The Lib Dems also gained a seat on Saddleworth Parish Council in a by-election.
The one seat to change hands was Saddleworth South, which includes Uppermill and Greenfield. Lib Dem Brian Lord was attempting to return to the borough council, having lost in Saddleworth West and Lees last year. But he was beaten by another familiar face in Saddleworth politics, Conservative John Hudson, who won with a majority of 202.
He repeated the success of his fellow Conservative Graham Sheldon, who won in Saddleworth South 12 months ago. But those two are now the only Tories on Oldham Council, as the party lost ground elsewhere. There was also no council comeback for Labour’s Joe Fitzpatrick. The controversial former election agent for Phil Woolas finished third.
Each of the three Saddleworth wards has three councillors, and the seats being fought yesterday were last contested in 2008. Back then, Mike Buckley won Saddleworth North for the Lib Dems, and last night his party colleague Garth Harkness held off a challenge from Independent Nicola Kirkham to take victory by 57 votes. Conservative Phil Sewell was third with Labour’s Imran Yousaf fourth in a ward which covers Delph and Dobcross among other villages.
In Saddleworth West and Lees, which includes Grotton and Springhead as well as Lees, Lib Dem Val Sedgwick was returned. She had a majority of 220 over Labour’s Gerard Ball, who was unable to repeat last year’s success of Adrian Alexander. Conservative Pam Byrne was third.
But there was better news for Labour in the rest of the borough, as the party tightened its control over Oldham Council, just a year after forming the administration. Labour made ten gains. Among the well-known councillors to lose was former Lib Dem deputy council leader Jackie Stanton, who lost to Cath Ball in St James, although Lib Dem group leader Howard Sykes held on comfortably in Shaw.
The state of the parties on Oldham Council is now: Labour 43, Lib Dems 14, Conservatives two, with one vacancy. The turnout across the whole borough was 33.6%, down more than five points on 2011. It was slightly higher in Saddleworth North at 35.87% and Saddleworth South 36.12%.
The Saddleworth West and Lees turnout was 30.95%.
The by-election on Saddleworth Parish Council was caused by the death earlier this year of well-known Independent Ken Hulme. His fellow Independent Helen Bishop wasn’t able to win the seat, which covers Delph and Denshaw, and she finished a close second to Lib Dem Sharon McGladdery, who won by 43 votes. The Denshaw resident is a newcomer to the Parish Council, and was successful a year after narrowly missing out on a seat in the parish elections.
The state of the parties on Saddleworth Parish Council is now: Lib Dems 13, Conservatives four, Independents three. The turnout for the parish by-election was 37.43%.
I cannot tell you how disappointed I am not to have been successful in defending Ken’s seat. To be honest, I’m devastated, but I gave it everything I had, as did Nicola. We have one goal only, to fight for Saddleworth. And yes, I do believe that we have the ability to do it.I have worked for the community in Delph and the rest of Saddleworth for the last 20 years, but at least I didn’t rent a house there in the last few weeks so I could pretend to be a resident (familiar tactic in Saddleworth and it disgusts me quite frankly). I’m not going to say any more on that at the moment but I intend to work my guts out over the next few years to ensure that people in Saddleworth are made more aware of the reality of the effect that the domination and tactics of one particular party has had. They are obsessed with retaining power and control instead of putting their energy into fighting for what Saddleworth needs. So it looks like we’ll be driving on dangerously shoddy roads for a while longer unfortunately.I am really grateful to everyone who supported Nicola and I and especially grateful to those who entrusted your vote to us. Thank you, and I hope you didn’t feel that it was wasted because we were so close and we’re not finished by a long chalk. We desperately need more assistance and potential candidates for future elections so watch out for meetings being advertised.
Last but not least, I hope that Ken would have been proud of us. I hope we did him justice. R.I.P. Ken.
No doubt Helen you and Nicola would have done your best if you had got in , but I think we are talking party politics here. I know Sharon McGladdery and she has done a lot for Denshaw and in fact she was one of the main people behind The Denshaw Villsge Hall and no doubt given a chance she will do the same for Delph. I dont know Garth but they are both new blood and I think we should give them both a chance, there has been a lot of complacancy in all the parties and new blood is what is needed. Best of luck next time
Congratulations to those who won.
Helen-
“the effect that the domination and tactics of one particular party has had”
You seem to be the only one to talk alot of politics on here to say that you want to “take politics out of it” My liberal councillors have always been helpful. Isn’t it Labour running Oldham who have 1 out of 9 in Saddleworth for the borough and none on the parish. Stop being so bitter and twisted.
“at least I didn’t rent a house there in the last few weeks so I could pretend to be a resident”- This seems slander as Sharon has clearly lived in Denshaw for some time. Paul lived in Diggle for a long time and Garth in Dobcross for a number of months. So again creating alot of smoke. I’m sure all 4 new elected members will fight for better roads. I think you are mistaken if you think that 1 independant can solve all the problems if elected
Of course an independant can work hard and try thier best if they get on Oldham but the way it works in Oldham means that you would not get everything they want. A councillor on thier own does not have the power to change the policies. You would be fighting against Labour who clearly don’t care for us. Why don’t you work with the councillors for the good of Saddleworth. Of course you have your own views and should voice them but I think you should work with them and not do this political point scoring all the time
Thanks Elaine, my comment was not aimed at Sharon in any way. I don’t know her personally but she won fair and square, I have no issue with that at all. I know that she lives in Denshaw and has contributed there. My main concern was trying to safeguard Ken’s seat, at which I did my best. I admit that I don’t like the party that Sharon stands for, from bitter experience, but I wish her the best of luck in representing the community.
I agree wholeheartedlyabout the complacency but I think we can safely say that we have put paid to that. Thanks again, it was lovely meeting you and watch this space because we’re not finished making our point yet! Thanks again.
Saddleworth72……..who are you exactly? At least I stand up and say what I think under my own name. And at what point did I say that Sharon isn’t from Denshaw? I never mentioned any names, be careful with your accusations because that is a very serious one. You have just admitted that Mr Harkness has only lived in Dobcross for ‘a few months. How odd! Last year when he stood for the parish for Springhead Lower ward he was listed as being at a Grotton address. I would like to know 2 things: 1) Exactly how long has he lived in Dobcross and 2) how long did he live in Grotton for? I am perfectly within my rights to ask those questions. Do you have the answers?
Why do you also feel it necessary to use a pseudonym? I am actually really annoyed by your totally unfounded accusation of slander. Disagree with me all you like but I think you need to retract that remark.
I wonder if the good people of Delph and Denshaw realise what they have lost in not selecting Helen.
She is utterly disinterested in what she could gain for herself in the role, in terms of status and was focussed totally on being able to represent the people of Saddleworth and be the voice that we currently lack. I dont believe any of the candidates selected have that fire in their belly or same vision that Helen has, in fact ive never heard anything from them but i wish them luck.
Even in defeat she is only concerned at not having strived hard enough to protect Kens legacy. In truth as an individual fighting organised party machines she couldnt have done anymore.
Im sure Helen will appear again as a candidate and i hope that next time the locals dont miss their opportunity again.
Again good luck to all the successful candidates.
I favour independents in local elections as a rule. I have a quick question though for Helen. Are you suggesting that for people to stand they should live in the area for a defined period of time? If so how long? And should they own or is renting ok? I know what the rules are, I’m interested in your opinion because you seem v cross about folk doing what they’ve done.
I think it’d have been better had you won. Interested in your opinion though. Thanks.
Hi Chris,
Firstly I would like to say that I would take no notice of Saddleworth72′s comments. Their lack of ability to justify or qualify their statement is evidence enough of the sort of stuff we’ve had to tolerate. Coming on under a pseudonym to try and smear somebody and then disappearing is the typical behaviour of an internet troll and I won’t entertain it.
To answer your question, I am just totally fed up of the lack of transparency. I do not think that we can set precedents around the period of time that someone has lived in an area or whether they are renting or have bought a property. HOWEVER I do think that they should be more open and honest about where they live and how long they’ve lived there. I have spent a considerable amount of time living in each of our 3 borough wards and have worked all over Saddleworth too with young people and the community, including many years working in Delph.
This is the sort of information I would want from my candidates as well as information about the skills and experience they have to bring to the table. I am really happy for anyone to ask me what I have to offer. I would like to say that I think that we made a mistake in not demanding hustings though and next time we will. I am sure that a healthy public debate will leave no-one in any doubt as to the best people to represent Saddleworth.
I have spent my career advocating on behalf of others an I always get the outcome they need. I hope the people of Saddleworth North now seek out their new local councillor and engage him in getting problems in the area resolved. I’ve heard a lot about what the problems are but not once have I heard anyone tell me what they’re going to do about it. Contrary to what Saddleworth72 tried to ineffectively argue, Independents have the bonus of being able to work with any of the parties. In fact we have been treated really fairly and politely by both the conservative and labour candidates and councillors and have a good relationship with both, which would have helped enormously given that the council is now predominantly labour-run. I personally know the deputy leader of the council very well as I worked in the same department as him at Rochdale council for 8 years (strategic housing) and I have many other connections in Oldham that I could have called upon. I also have their respect and their ear as they know I will fight effectively for whatever is needed and often they’ll give in before I start. I won’t waste my time having my picture taken pointing at potholes……I’d get them filled! Never mind though. What’s done is done. Next time, public debates! Then we’ll see who can fight best for Saddleworth. Ask me any questions you like…any time!
Such vitriol and misguided opinion Helen.
Why don’t you direct some of it at the people who didn’t want you, the voters said no - get over it and move on. Stop bleating like the sore loser that you are fast becoming. The people of Saddleworth deserve better.
I’m sure I’ve already wished the succesful candidate in the parish election good luck and said she won fair and square if you read back. My comments regard the borough elections in which I didn’t stand so I don’t really see your point but you are entitled to make it. Perhaps you might think about standing as an Independent yourself if you feel so strongly about it Saddbarsteward? The more the merrier, you’re very welcome!