Balderstone and Kirkholt by-election 2025 Results

Thursday, 1 May 2025 19:44

By David Murphy

Voters in Balderstone and Kirkholt headed to the polls in a closely watched by-election, following the resignation of councillor-turned-MP Elsie Blundell.

The polling station at Kirkholt Community Church saw steady turnout throughout the day, with anticipation building as the count got underway.

In an unsurprising result, Reform UK won the Balderstone and Kirkholt ward, taking the seat from Labour in a contest prompted by Blundell’s departure. Reform candidate Jordan Tarrant-Short secured a comfortable victory, reflecting recent national polling trends and a growing appetite for political alternatives.

Election Results (Turnout: 2362 - 28%)


Party	Candidate	Votes	Share (%)
Reform UK	Jordan Tarrant-Short (Elected)	766	32.55%
Labour	Leanne Greenwood	624	26.51%
Workers Party of Britain	Laura Pugh	398	16.91%
Conservative	Mudassar Razzaq	212	9.01%
Independent	Billy Howarth	180	7.65%
Liberal Democrats	Chariss Laura Peacock	109	4.63%
Green	Martyn David Savin	65	2.76%

Elsie Blundell, who was elected as the MP for Heywood and Middleton at the last general election, continued to serve as a councillor until her resignation, which triggered the by-election.

Reform’s win reinforces the party’s rising influence in parts of Greater Manchester and will be viewed as further evidence of public dissatisfaction with the established parties. Local concerns over housing developments, crime, infrastructure and cycle lanes are thought to have influenced the vote.

Turnout stood at 28%, a 3% increase on last year’s local election in the ward.

Elsie Blundell MP was approached for comment at the time of her resignation but has not issued a statement.

Find out which constituency you live in
You can search using your postcode on the UK Parliament web site to find out which constituency you live in and who your MP is:
https://members.parliament.uk/constituencies

Electoral Registration Office:
Elections Team
Governance and Committee Services
Floor 2
Number One Riverside
Smith Street
Rochdale
OL16 1XU

If you have any questions, call 0300 303 0345 or email elections@rochdale.gov.uk