SALFORD City Council election results reflected a mixed national picture for major parties, as both Labour and the Conservatives made gains and suffered losses against each other.

During Thursday’s elections, the Tories won Kersal in a result widely believed to be because of Labour’s continued anti-semitism problem. The area has one of the highest numbers of Jewish residents in the country and Rabbi Arnold Saunders took one of the ward’s other seats for the Conservatives at a by-election last year.

Meanwhile, Labour gained Walkden South, with new councillor Laura Edwards becoming one of the country’s youngest at 19 years old.

The rest of the results were largely unsurprising, with Labour maintaining its firm hold over the council.

The ruling party increased its number of councillors by one to 50, re-gaining the Swinton South seat that had been independent since ousted Labour member Howard Balkind resigned from the party in September last year.

Attempts by smaller parties to make dents in Labour’s success were met with mixed results. The Liberal Democrats, who fielded candidates in every ward for the first time since 2012, failed to achieve above third place in any of the 20 wards contested.

The UK Independence Party were similarly unsuccessful in their attempts across the 12 wards they fought, struggling to gain above 200 votes per area.

It was a better night for the local-interest Community Revolution (CO:RE) Party, who ran close contests in Irlam and Cadishead – coming second behind Labour in both.

The party – founded late last year to increase community participation in Salford politics – celebrated its in-roads into Labour majorities, with founder Darren Goulden saying they did “really well”.

The results in Salford mirrored the national picture, where equal numbers of gains and losses left Labour in control of as many councils as before, with debate as to whether or not Jeremy Corbyn’s party had lived up to expectations.

For full Salford City Council election results, see the council’s website.

 

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