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
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