Manchester local election results 2006: Disappointment for the LibDems in the City of Manchester

I am one of a small minority of people taking an active interest in the local election results. Here’s my summary written as the results were coming through.

It’s been a disappointing night for the LibDems, who failed to take over Manchester City Council, as they’d hoped, in fact they lost four seats and Labour gained four. I believe the strong Labour showing is due to a ‘feelgood’ factor in the city which has been under Labour control for many years.

At Salford City Council, Labour remain in charge. The LibDems gained 2, and Labour lost one, but in Bury MBC and Oldham MBC they lost control of both those councils. Rochdale MBC was already a hung council, and so the north of the conurbation is NOC or ‘no overall control’.

In the south west, the Conservatives remain tightly in control of Trafford MBC council, whilst in the south east, the Lib Dems continue as the main party on Stockport MBC council.

In the east, Labour remain firmly in control of Tameside MBC. And over in Wigan MBC in the far west, Labour remain overwhelmingly the largest party.

Here’s a summary of the results from the 10 Greater Manchester boroughs. Please note, only a third of seats were up for re-election in most councils.

Bolton NOC: Con 21 – Lab 22 – LD 17
Bury Lab lose to NOC: Con 22 – Lab 23 – LD 6
Oldham Lab hold: Con 1 – Lab 31 – LD 27
Rochdale NOC no change: Con 10 – Lab 20 – LD 30
Salford Lab hold: Con 8 – Lab 44 – LD 8
Stockport LD hold: Con 10 – Lab 15 – LD 35 – Ind 3
Trafford Con hold: Con 39 – Lab 20 – LD 4
Tameside Lab hold: Con 8 – Lab 44 – LD 2 – Ind 3
Wigan Lab hold: Con 9 – Lab 43 – LD 8 – Ind 15

And a selection from around the region

Blackburn with Darwen: Lab hold
Chorley: Con gain from NOC
Congleton: Con hold
Liverpool: LD hold
Warrington: Lab lost to NOC
Macclesfield: Con hold

And what if Greater Manchester had one big council? This is how I work it out:

Labour 262
Lib Dem 137
Conservatives 128
Others 21

Well well, Conservatives nearly as strong as LIb Dem, Labour the biggest party but slightly less than the Conservatives and Lib Dems combined, what if, indeed? I must double check those figures, but it’s interesting to imagine the political complexion of a joined-up city…

What if there was one council for wards within a 5 mile radius of Manchester City Centre…? I’ll work that one out as soon as I get the detailed figures.

EOM says: Local democracy is vitally important aspect our political system, but most people are apathetic about it. Having lived experienced dictatorships at first hand – I’m thinking particularly of East Germany, where results were routinely falsified and non-Communist parties were forbidden – I think people here ought to take more interest in local politics and exercise their vote, as I did today.

Now it’s time to get some sleep.