All the overnight results in Greater Manchester as Labour loses seats with Gaza war a 'decisive' factor

Labour has lost seats at councils across Greater Manchester and no longer holds a majority in Oldham. The party suffered losses, predominantly to independent candidates, in several areas where the war in Gaza was said to be a decisive factor for some voters.

Bolton council remains in no overall control after Labour - which remains the largest party in the borough - lost five seats, but won three. The Lib Dems fell one seat short of securing a majority at Stockport council where the party gained two seats from Labour.

Elsewhere in Greater Manchester, Labour comfortably held onto Tameside and Wigan councils but lost seats to independents in both boroughs. The Conservatives suffered losses in Oldham and Wigan, but made gains in Tameside and Bolton where they also lost a seat.

READ MORE: Greater Manchester local council election 2024 results - borough by borough

Labour won the Blackpool South by-election with newly-elected MP Chris Webb securing a majority of 7,607. The Conservatives - who won the seat at the 2019 general election but suspended its MP over a lobbying scandal - came second, 117 votes ahead of Reform UK.

But in Greater Manchester, Labour suffered losses. The party lost five seats overall in Oldham, putting the council in no overall control.

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

The party will now need to work with smaller political groups and independents if it wants to stay in power. If the opposition parties join forces to form a majority, they could oust Labour - but ahead of the election, several party sources said such a coalition is unlikely.

In Bolton, Labour need three seats to secure a majority. The party won three seats, but lost five leaving the party two seats down.

The Greens won their first ever seat at Bolton council in Halliwell, while an independent gained from Labour in Rumworth. Farnworth and Kearsley First stole two seats off Labour, while the Tories gained Astley Bridge, beating Labour by just one vote to win the seat.

But the Tories lost Bradshaw to Labour, while the party also gained a seat in Hulton where it beat a former Conservative councillor who was standing as an independent. Labour also gained Westhoughton South from the Lib Dems, leaving the party on 26 seats.

In Stockport, the Lib Dems gained two seats - Offerton and Cheadle East and Cheadle Hulme North - but the party was one short of a majority. Greens, Edgeley Community Association and Heald Green Ratepayers held seats, but the Lib Dems are still the largest party.

Labour held onto its healthy majority in Tameside, but lost three seats - two to independents in St Peter's and Stalybridge North and one to the Toriesin Hyde Werneth. Newly-elected St Peter's councillor Kaleen Khan wore a a rosette in the colours of the Palestinian flag, but said that, despite being an issue that is 'really personal' to him, the war in Gaza was 'not at the forefront' of his campaign.

In Wigan, Labour lost one seat to an independent in Ince, but gained a seat from the Conservatives in Lowton East, leaving the Tories with just one councillor. The party remains firmly in control of the council with 64 seats, while the independents have a total of 10.

Four Greater Manchester councils will count their votes today including Rochdale where MP George Galloway is hoping to defeat Labour in several seats. The Workers Party of Britain which he leads is also hoping to oust Manchester council's deputy leader.

Bury and Trafford councils will also be counting their votes today (May 3) The results of the Greater Manchester and Salford mayoral elections will be declared on Saturday (May 4), before the votes for the Salford council elections are counted on Sunday (May 5).