LABOUR STRIKE AT THE TORIES WORSLEY HEART, LIBERAL DEMOCRATS MAKE A TINY DENT AND IT'S FAREWELL TO THE CITIES ONLY INDEPENDENT COUNCILLOR - FOR NOW?

Despite horrific losses across the rest of the country, Labour managed to make a few gains in its stronghold of Salford as Core Independents lose their only councillor and Labour make a spectacular push into the heartlands of the local Conservatives.

It was a good day and a bad day depending on how you look at things.

Labour had started off the morning with news of huge losses to the Conservatives in Hartlepool where the Tories gained an MP at the expense of a now battered and bruised Labour. The town had changed its colours after 62 years of being red and to add insult to injury, the numbers were almost 2-1 in the blues favour.

Labour leader, Keir Starmer instantly came under criticism for what amounted to a political bloodbath as Tory candidate Jill Mortimer claimed the seat with 51.9% of the vote and a staggering 15,529 votes compared to Labours meagre 8,589.

That was only the start of things to come as the Tories once more knocked down the red wall across the country and continued its conquest of the North, making gains along the way.

Salford however, somehow bucked the trend by fending off the big losses seen in other areas.

Even the Liberal Democrats managed to make a small resurgence as they snapped up the vacant seat in Kersal (Now Kersal and Broughton Park) left unoccupied after the death of Labour stalwart Peter Connor in 2019.

Avrohom Yitzchok Walter chalked up a very respectable 891 votes for the Lib Dems which saw him take the coveted third seat alongside the Conservatives Ari Leitner and mayoral hopeful Arnie Saunders.

The battle for Walkden South was one of the most anticipated results but Labour even managed to do well there, retaining its three seats with a margin of comfort, seeing conservative hopeful Lewis Croden lose out by just 6 votes to Irfan Syed.

In Higher Irlam And Peel Green, Labour made a comeback, ousting Cores Darren Goulden as in Cadishead.

And over in Cadishead & Lower Irlam, Cores Dave Pike fell just a handful of votes short of taking a seat back as he rolled in a respectable fourth. 

Labours Lewis Nelson gained a staggering 1829 votes to secure his position as councillor for the next three years, we suspect mainly as he has remained consistent in his commitment to protect the greenbelt, even positioning himself against his own party at times. The electorate clearly liked what they saw and came out to support him.

The biggest gain of the evening had the added benefit of a psychological one too, as Labour pushed its way into the local Worsley heart of the Conservatives to secure themselves a seat. In doing so sending a very clear message to the opposition that the boundary changes have evened up the playing field in the coveted ward.

There were just four votes between Robin Garrido and Tony Davies who came in second and third respectively. If that does not set off alarm bells then we don't know what will.

Other than that, there were no major surprises as Labour retained the rest of its seats and took control of the newly formed Quays ward.

One notable victory was that of renowned bedroom tax and now Labour Councillor Maria Brabiner who took one of the most spectacular wins of the evening with the highest number of votes in the Broughton Ward. As a new comer to the council she gained more than her fellow councillors Jim King and John Merry who came in 2nd and 3rd spots respectively. 

The obvious other huge win was Bob Clarke in Boothstown & Ellenbrook who gained 2205 votes after 39.84% of the electorate turned out to vote, compared with a paltry 19.52% in neighbouring Little Hulton. In a city which is clearly still red, Bob could be a real threat to the Mayoral title if he ever chose to go for it.

Individual election results for each area can be found on this link: Elections - Politics - salford.media