Voters in Rochdale could set the borough on a new political course next week when the polls open for the first ‘all out’ council elections in nearly 20 years. Labour currently dominates at the town hall, holding 44 of its 60 seats, while the Tories are the second largest group with 11 elected members.
The Lib Dems have four councillors and there is one independent - Kath Nickson - who is not standing for re-election this time round. The borough is made up of 20 wards, each represented by three councillors who normally serve four year terms before standing down or seeking re-election.
All that could be turned on its head on Thursday though, as changes to ward boundaries mean every seat is up for grabs instead of the usual third. It's the borough's first 'all out' council election since 2004 - and whether Rochdalians will opt for a radical change of political direction or stick with the tried and tested remains to be seen.
