Labour loses control at Oldham council

Joseph Timan & Charlotte Hall

3 May 2024 at 10:17 am·1-min read

Oldham council election results 2024 -Credit:LDRS

Labour has lost its majority at Oldham council. The party which has been in power since 2011 no longer controls the council - but it could remain in charge as the largest party.

It follows three consecutive years in which the leader of Oldham council was ousted. The current council leader Arooj Shah was not up for re-election this year, but could now face a leadership challenge after presiding over her party losing control of the town hall.

Labour went into the election with a majority of just one, but have lost seven seats while gaining two. Independent candidates beat Labour in several wards where the war in Gaza - and the party's stance on the conflict - is understood to have been a decisive factor.

The party lost one seat to the Failsworth Independents, but gained another while also gaining a seat from the Conservatives. The final results have now been declared, with Labour suffering a net loss of five, leaving the council in no overall control.

Labour will now need to work with smaller political groups and independents if it wants to stay in power. The party will need a majority to elect a leader and pass the budget.

If the opposition parties join forces to form a majority, they could oust Labour. However, ahead of the election, several Labour sources had said that such a coalition seems unlikely as it would require a wide range of groups with opposing views to work together.

Labour lost seats to independents in Wernerth, Coldhurst, St Mary's, Waterhead, Alexandra and Royton South while the Failsworth Independents gained from Labour in Failsworth West. Labour gained Failsworth East and Hollinwood, while the Lib Dems lost Shaw to an independent.

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