Back in 2018 Councillor David Meller won Stockport’s Cheadle Hulme North seat by just two votes. He was finally declared the victor after no fewer than three recounts - defeating Lib Dem candidate Claire Halliwell to become its first Labour councillor in more than 50 years.
Four years later he remains the sole Labour councillor in the area, his ward colleagues - Lib Dem councillors Tom Morrison and Jilly Julian - having successfully fought off any further gains by his party in the interim. But the electoral cycle moves on and Coun Meller - now cabinet member for economy and regeneration - will need a renewed mandate from residents if he is to continue to represent them.
With Labour and the Lib Dems essentially neck and neck going into this year’s local elections - with 25 and 26 seats respectively - Cheadle Hulme North is undoubtedly a key battleground. And with the Conservatives last managing a second-placed finish in 2015, it’s looking like a straight face-off between the two parties.
