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Six-way battle looms for crucial final seat on Bury council in Moorside ward

Friday, 22 May 2026 12:28

By Hannah Richardson, Local Democracy Reporter

Credit: David Murphy / Roch Valley Radio

Six candidates will go head-to-head to secure the final seat on Bury council. 

The May election for the borough’s Moorside ward was cancelled after the sudden passing of Reform UK candidate Victor Hagan. The seat currently remains vacant, with a new election date now scheduled for Thursday, June 18.

Six parties have declared candidates for the contest: Labour, the Conservatives, Reform UK, the Green Party, Bury Independents and the Workers Party of Britain. 

This election could prove decisive for the functioning of the council for the coming year. Currently, both Reform UK and Radcliffe First are tied for the position of main opposition party on the authority.

Both parties have six councillors. Radcliffe First is not in the running for the seat, which is located in the north of Bury town, meaning Reform has the opportunity to inch ahead and become the borough’s official opposition.

After defying the national trend which saw huge losses for Labour at the locals and maintaining their majority on the council at this month’s vote, the party’s Sandra Walmsley will be hoping to keep her seat for another term to further solidify the party’s position in the council chamber. A full list of candidates can be found below.

Mr Hagan has been remembered as a ‘treasured foster carer’, ‘kind neighbour’, and ‘political sparring partner’ by those who knew him. He was known as a ‘local character’, who frequently campaigned on housing issues and fly-tipping in his local area.

The full list of candidates for the election:

  • Jill Budgen – Bury Independents
  • Alan Derby – Reform UK
  • Jihyun Park – The Conservative Party Candidate
  • Conor William Craig Priestley – The Green Party
  • Sandra Walmsley – The Labour Party
  • Yasin Aamer – Workers Party of Britain

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