Local council elections are taking place across Greater Manchester (and elsewhere) on 4 May – including in Trafford.
Here’s your guide to what you need to know.
What election is taking place in Trafford?
The local council elections.
All 63 seats across all the wards in the borough are up for election when the polls open.
Who can vote in the elections?
The deadline for registering to vote has now passed – it was 17 April. Anyone who applied before that date will be eligible, so long as they:
- are 18 or older on the day of the election
- are a British citizen, an Irish or EU citizen, a qualifying Commonwealth citizen
- are registered at an address in the relevant area (i.e. Trafford)
- are not legally excluded from voting
All voters can choose three candidates to vote for.
Who is standing for election in Trafford?
Ben Hartley, who will also be the Labour parliamentary candidate for Ashton upon Mersey in the 2024 general election, is hoping to be re-elected as a councillor with the support of fellow Trafford councillors as he continues to ensure ethnic minority communities are fully supported and represented.
Shona Gilbert and Tony O’Brian are hoping to be elected alongside Cllr Hartley for the Labour Group.
Conservative candidate for Brooklands Chris Boyes is also hoping to be re-elected as he continues to focus on cost-of-living payments being made to the lowest-income families.
Candidates for the Old Trafford ward include Diane Coupe (Conservative), Waseem Hassan (Labour) and Andrew Phillip Geoffrey Hick (Lib Dem).
A full list of candidates for each ward can be found here.
What does the outgoing council look like in Trafford?
There are 63 councillors currently in Trafford Council, with the Labour Party being in overall control with 41 seats. The opposition Conservatives have 13 seats, Liberal Democrats have five seats and the Green Party has four.
The current leader is Labour’s Tom Ross, from the Stretford ward, who also has an Executive Portfolio for Governance and Finance. He is seeking re-election.
What are the issues being debated in Trafford?
Trafford Council is planning essential maintenance work taking place across the borough’s road network over the upcoming months. The Council also aim to continue tackling the issue of poverty in the borough which has already been given a huge boost.
Also, after months of debate, the Altrincham Town Hall lease will be taken over in January 2024 by a community, charity or commercial group.
Labour candidate Ben Hartley has recently pledged to back the Co-operative Party’s campaign, calling on the government to increase the value of food vouchers to promote Healthy Start locally so that families stop missing out.
When and where can I vote?
Voting takes place on 4 May 2023 from 7 am until 10 pm.
You can check where your nearest polling station is here or by using your poll card. Trafford Council is committed to ensuring that polling stations are accessible to all voters.
The 2023 local elections are the first to take place under new national legislation meaning all voters must show photographic ID when they arrive at the polling station. You can check to see what ID you can use here.
When will the results be announced?
The election count results will take place overnight on 4 May and the final count will be ready during the early hours on 5 May.
The count will be held in Lancashire Cricket Ground, Talbot Road.
Our coverage
Mancunian Matters will be covering the local elections across Greater Manchester.
We will be speaking to voters, campaigners, and councillors reporting on the key issues.
Follow our social media sites for more information leading up to the polling day and beyond.
Image source: David Dixon on Wikimedia Commons
