Labour retains Chorley in local elections
They have won every seat bar one that was up for grabs this year
Labour has strengthened its hold on Chorley Council after successfully defending eight of the 14 contested seats that it already held.
But in a bitter blow for the Tories in the borough, the ruling group also snatched five others away from the opposition.
Labour now holds 37 seats on the authority, while the sole opposition party saw their numbers halved to stand at just five.
Amongst the members ousted in a night of carnage for the Conservatives was their deputy leader Debrah Platt, who represented Euxton, and finance spokesperson Sam Chapman, one of the members for the Clayton East, Brindle and Hoghton ward.
The only seat that the Tories managed to defend was that previously held by former group leader Martin Boardman, who decided not to stand for re-election in his Croston, Mawdesley and Euxton South ward, but was replaced by fellow Conservative Craige Southern.
Labour effectively gained a sixth seat by winning in Chorley East, after the party’s previous incumbent, James Nevett, became an independent last year and, having decided not to contest the ward this time round, was replaced by Labour’s Chris Snow.
Labour council leader Alistair Bradley told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) that the landslide result was “a fantastic night for Labour in Chorley”.
“To win almost every seat up for grabs is a huge endorsement of the work we are doing for our residents and shows that people can tell the difference we are making in our communities. I’d like to thank everyone who has supported us at this election and look forward to delivering even more for the people of Chorley in the coming year.
“Whether it has been building new space for businesses to help create jobs, opening much-needed health facilities or helping people through the cost-of-living crisis, we have been investing in every part of the borough and the results show that people really appreciate that.
“Alongside the hard work we have done locally, it is also a sign that people are fed up with the incompetent government that has made a complete mess of things nationally and I hope to see Labour make gains across Lancashire and the country, Cllr Bradley added.
Conservative opposition group leader Alan Cullens concurred with his triumphant political rival that national factors had been at play, as he reflected on “a very difficult night for the Conservatives in Chorley”.
“Whilst this was a local election, the message on the doorstep was about the state of the national party.
“Turnout in some wards was less than 30 percent, so this election was by no means a ringing endorsement for Labour, locally nor nationally.