Senior Labour figures have expressed optimism for Labour’s chances in the Trafford constituency of Altrincham and Sale West – which could have a Labour MP at the end of tonight for the first time since 1923.
Kate Green, Greater Manchester’s Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime – and the Labour MP of neighbouring Stretford and Urmston until 2022 – said: “The exit poll is obviously giving us great cause for optimism.
“It will be a very big result for us if we can take Altrincham and Sale West.
“Five, 10, 15 years ago, we never thought it was a seat that could ever come to us.”
The Labour candidate there is Connor Rand, who Green predicted will be ‘a really hard-working MP’.
Trafford Council leader Tom Ross likewise said he was ‘absolutely thrilled’.
On the prospect of having a Labour representative for the area for the first time since 1923, he said: “It would be massive.
“When I first got into politics, it was the 1997 election and I remember coming to the count in 1997 and seeing my great friend Jane Baugh almost make it within about 1,500 votes of making it.
“It would be a stunning result for us in Altrincham and Sale West and it would be a deserved result for not just us but all the hard-working activists.
“And I know if Connor Rand is elected he would be a superb MP. Connor is already working with community groups in Altrincham and Sale West.
“If he is elected, he will want to work with all the residents across the constituency – doing what has been happening in the constituency of Stretford and Urmston for a very long time with Beverley Hughes, Kate Green and now Andrew Western, who are all incredibly focused, hard-working MPs.
“We have been very fortunate in Trafford to have a good record of MPs that we send to Parliament with a Labour badge.”
Labour is currently forecast to win all three parliamentary seats in Trafford, although the results are only likely to be announced at around 4am.
