Labour were ousted from just one seat in an otherwise expected red wash at the Tameside local election overnight.
The majority of Labour candidates comfortably held onto their councillor seats, with only Raja Miah of Hyde Werneth losing out to Ruth Welsh of the Conservative Party who got 1777 votes against his 1606.
Among the returning sea of red was the charismatic Jan Jackson for Stalybridge North with 1229 votes, and Jim Middleton, who was “absolutely delighted” to return to his Droylsden East seat.
Re-elected Ashton Hurst Labour councillor Leigh Drennan said: “It’s not about where you’re from, it’s about where you’re going.”
Peter Robinson, Hyde Newton Labour Councillor since 1998, gave the MM reporters a celebratory fist pump as he left the Dukinfield Town Hall with another win under his belt after receiving 1597 votes.
There were rumblings of growing support for some UKIP candidates placed second, notably with UKIP’s Philip Chadwick receiving 1137 votes in Hyde Newton.
“People want change,” Mr Chadwick told MM. “But they need to get off their backsides and vote.”
Bar Ms Welsh, Conservatives were left disappointed as they failed to get close to the Labour stronghold on the area.
