Hyperlocal parties were the big winners at this year's local elections as they stole the limelight from Labour. On a day where Labour was expected to make significant progress in Greater Manchester, the party has been left rueing missed opportunities.
Both Bolton and Stockport councils were earmarked as being ripe for Labour gains on the back of Partygate and the cost of living crisis. Yet those hopes failed to materialise, with both councils remaining under no overall control as no party won enough seats to form a majority administration.
It was far from a disaster for Labour, however, having retained control of Manchester council - as well as Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Tameside, Trafford and Wigan. Results were declared in six of Greater Manchester's 10 councils in the early hours of Friday, while counts in Manchester, Bury, Trafford and Rochdale took place later in the day.
