Labour has retained control of Rochdale Council with the Liberal Democrats gaining just one seat, despite expecting a major resurgence in the town.
Labour held onto 15 seats, gaining the Spotland and Falinge ward from the Conservatives.
The Liberal Dems took the Milnrow and Newhey seat, giving the party two seats across the borough.
Labour leader Richard Farnell, who held on to his Balderstone and Kirkholt seat with a majority of 1,002, said his party’s success is down to positive campaigning.
“Our candidates and councillors got on with the job and put in a solid performance putting across to the electorate what they are going to do for the constituents,” Richard told MM.
The councillor, who branded Lib Dem David Hennigan a ‘turd’ on twitter for highlighting his apparent illegal parking in March, said the Lib Dems had resorted to ‘gutter politics’ with their campaign.
“What we’ve been faced with is a barrage of lies and hype from the Liberal Democrats who at one time were saying that they would win seven seats,” said Coun Richard.
“They concentrated on attacking the local MP and lying about the record of the council, the usual Lib Dem gutter politics – attacking personalities and individual candidates.
“They never once said what they we were going to do with Rochdale because they haven’t got a clue.
“It hasn’t worked, the electorate are turned off by personal attacks and a negative campaign.”
Despite gaining only one seat in the town with a majority of 775 for Irene Davidson, Liberal Democrat leader Andy Kelly is optimistic for the future of the party.
“It’s been a very difficult five years but we’ve got new members joining and have increased membership by about 50-60% since the start of this year,” Andy told MM.
“Of course these people need to gain experience and understand how to get active in their community.
“In Rochdale it’s going to be another two years until the next local election but I guarantee you’ll see an improvement by then.”
The Lib Dem leader was also vocal about the appearance of suspended Labour MP Simon Danczuk, who arrived to a mixed reception at the count.
“I get annoyed that there seems to be no opposition to what’s going on,” he told MM.
“Labour have made no statement on his position, or his actions, so if I have to shout the loudest then I will do.”
The Conservatives retained seats in Wardle and West Littleborough, Norden and Bamford.
UKIP and the Green party failed to gain a seat, despite having 14 and 11 candidates across the borough.
Independant candidates received 2% of the vote while TUSC candidate Dave Fenwick Finn drew less than 1%.
The Bamford ward saw the highest turnout with 45.5%, while the lowest was in West Middleton with 27.9% of people voting.
Image courtesy of Aero Pixels, via Flickr, with thanks.
