Salford has elected its first-ever Reform UK councillor in a closely fought by-election.
The party’s candidate, Michael Felse, saw off challenges from Labour and the Green Party in a six-way contest to elect a new councillor for the Barton and Winton ward.
The result of Wednesday’s vote means Reform has claimed its first seat on the authority in a by-election which was called following the death of England’s longest-serving councillor, David Lancaster.
Felse secured 676 votes, narrowly ahead of Labour’s Catherine Goodyer on 643.
Green candidate Jack Groom came third with 363 votes, while Conservative Party candidate Holly Ann Muldoon was fourth with 118.
Liberal Democrats candidate Antony Ian Duke received 94 votes and Your Party representative Kirsty Anne Downie finished last with 44.
Labour won the last comparable election in 2023, when Mr Lancaster captured 68.1% of the vote share.
Turnout in the ward fell 5.9% from the vote three years ago.
“I have made history in Salford as the first reform councillor. It’s going to be a lonely fortnight and I’m looking forward to having many colleagues join me for reform on the 7 May,” Felse said after his triumph was announced following a tense recount.
“I’m very sad to say there are a lot of problems in Barton and Winton. I was actually horrified when I was walking the streets and seeing the litter and the potholes.
“It’s a really problematic area. Residents are sitting there and watching across the way as money is being pumped into the stadium.”
Asked to pinpoint where the Labour party had fallen short on the campaign trail to open the door for his victory in a historically safe red seat, the smiling Reform candidate said:
“I think the thing to remember with Labour is that I’m the longest-standing expelled member of the Labour Party. So, you know, 15 years ago, they expelled me. And there are lots of others who are not happy with the Labour Party.
“People want change, they want improvement, and that’s what we want to give them.”
Felse’s win vindicates a decision by Reform to call a by-election before the widespread local elections take place across the borough’s 20 wards on 7 May.
Usually, when a councillor position becomes vacant less than six months before a planned election, the vote is rolled into the same day to avoid extra costs. But a 1972 rule mandates that if two electors request an earlier polling day, the local authority must carry out a vote within 35 days.
Lewis Croden, a Reform candidate standing in Little Hulton, and his relative called the election, which proved an inspired move as his party colleague, Felse, was successful after a recount.
“I’d like to say thank you to the people who voted for me, they’ve made my week.”
He has been elected to serve a one-year term on the authority, but has his sights set on being a Barton and Winton councillor for years to come.
“It’s a one-year term. So let’s get ready for one year from now, because there’ll be another election.”
Felse is no stranger to late-night vote counts. He stood for the English Democrats in Salford’s 2012 mayoral election, where he finished eighth with 3.6% of the vote as Ian Stewart was elected.
He was also unsuccessful when he ran to become the Mayor of Doncaster as an independent in 2009 and as an English Democrat representative in Dewsbury at the 2010 general election.
The Reform candidate may have been recognised by some of the electorate on the campaign trail as the person who headed up a gay and lesbian festival as its Pride Queen.
Felse, who was chosen to lead the 2011 Manchester Pride festival as his alter ego drag queen Ethol Mary, described the character as more like a Grimsby Docker than Lady Gaga.”
Fifteen years down the line, he has made more history by becoming Salford’s first-ever Reform councillor.
Full result:
Michael James Felse (Reform) – 676
Catherine Goodyer (Labour) – 643
Jack Groom (Green) – 363
Holly Ann Muldoon – (Conservative) -118
Antony Ian Duke (Liberal Democrat) – 94
Kirsty Anne Downie (Your Party) – 44
