Tameside’s town hall remains ‘very much’ red after Thursday’s council election but the Conservatives have hailed a ‘wonderful’ night with two gains made. Ashton-Under-Lyne MP Angela Rayner cheered Labour on throughout the count in Ashton but appeared shaken by Oldham’s Labour leadership loss for the second time in as many years.
Tameside saw a low turnout of 28 per cent and despite two gains for the Tories, Labour still dominates the council with 49 councillors, compared to seven Conservatives and a lone Green. Tory candidates were confident on making gains in Hyde and Stalybridge but as ballots were counted Labour remained hopeful about holding nearly all seats.
Soon after the count was completed however Labour all but conceded defeat in Hyde Godley. This ward has been the subject of a highly controversial planning application to build 2,150 homes on green belt land in Hyde, named the Godley Green garden village.
