Reform and the Greens picked up councillors across the region, as they did across England
Greater Manchester could give Labour the answer to turning its fortunes around, an MP has said – without mentioning Andy Burnham or Angela Rayner’s names.
Speculation is rife that the mayor and the former deputy Prime Minister will launch leadership bids to oust Keir Starmer following a disastrous set of local election results. Labour had haemorrhaged 1,357 councillors by 10pm on Friday (May 8), including sweeping losses in Manchester, Wigan, Salford, Oldham, and Tameside.
Reform and the Greens picked up councillors across the region, as they did across England. In the face of a two-pronged attack, some Labour figures have called for the Prime Minister’s resignation – and some want Burnham or Rayner to replace him.
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However, a Greater Manchester MP says the formula for Labour’s revival is clear to see in Bury – and it doesn’t mention either.
James Frith, MP for Bury North, released a 227 word statement on Friday explaining how Labour ‘bucked the trend’ to stay in power and won more seats than Reform did at the polls.
He said: “In Bury, we bucked the national trend and outperformed much of Greater Manchester, resisting the scale of political shift seen elsewhere across the region and the country.
“It may be too soon and overstated to offer it as a good example to follow but the exception is worthy of noting. Reform can be beaten back.”
He added most of Reform’s support in the town came from right-leaning areas: “In Bury North, only Conservative-held wards switched to Reform, and one was a defection earlier in the campaign, reinforcing the point that Reform’s advance was strongest where the Conservatives switched or collapsed rather than where Labour stood strong, present and reliable in our community.
“Where Labour won off the Tories in Bury North, this felt like the electorate understanding the threat to the one-time all one-nation Remain Tory ward and so they did the best thing to defeat Reform there, and voted Labour.
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“Labour still faced real challenges, with the Workers’ Party taking a seat from Labour, abetted by the Green vote. Despite the only Labour loss Labour still finished ahead of Reform who were a close third in a busy field.
“Ultimately, Reform will be only the second-largest opposition party on Bury Council, as the independent Radcliffe First group remains the official opposition to the Labour-led, Labour-retained council.”
The other reported leadership hopefuls is Health Secretary Wes Streeting. Numerous senior Labour figures have come out to back the Prime Minister.
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