A ‘POLITICAL earthquake’ rocked the town hall as fledgling party Farnworth and Kearsley First took a council seat in Farnworth, a Labour stronghold.

The by-election was held to replace Labour councillor Asif Ibrahim, who stepped down in January.

Cllr Paul Sanders was elected to his seat with 1,204 votes, beating Labour candidate Rebecca Minors by 235 votes.

Farnworth and Kearsley First only officially became a political party in September with an aim of getting a fairer deal for the areas, ultimately looking to break with Bolton Council in a move dubbed ‘Fexit and Kexit’.

Newly-elected Cllr Sanders said he was committed to working for the people of Farnworth and was keen to work with his Labour colleagues in the ward.

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Cllr Sanders said: “If I can have any influence on the lack of movement on the precinct that would be an area I would love to try and move forward and I know that won’t be easy.”

He also wanted to focus on flytipping and the possible impact of slim bins and the state of the roads in Farnworth and Bolton as a whole.

In the last Farnworth ward election in 2016, UKIP came second to Labour with 1,066 votes to 1,417. This time the UKIP vote diminished to 169 votes. UKIP leader Cllr Sean Hornby could not be reached for a comment.

After being sworn in, Cllr Sanders said: “I’m shocked, it was the result I wanted but couldn’t taste or feel until now and I’m so grateful to the people who put their faith in me and gifted me their vote.”

Farnworth and Kearsley First founding member Paul Heslop, said: “It’s a political earthquake in the town hall.

“This monolith of misery has ruled for the last 40-odd years and the people of Farnworth have spoken. Farnworth and Kearsley First is the first and it will not be the last.”

Cllr Sanders was looking forward to working with Labour councillors Jean Gillies and Noel Spencer.

He said: “I 100 per cent want to work with them. We need to work together. “When we formed Farnworth and Kearsley First we did liaise with Jean Gillies and she said ‘the Labour party do not speak to any other political party’.

“We can’t exist like that and we need to work together. I don’t see Noel or Jean as the enemy, they are a team that I can be part of.”

Cllr Gillies said: “I’ve extended congratulations to Paul and I’ve said it’s important we work together — and I’m sure we will.

“I’m Farnworth born and bred; what affects Farnworth, affects me as a resident. We’ve got to understand the message that voters have sent us; the underlying frustrations with how long things are taking to get done, the social, health and economic issues in Farnworth - it is why I stood for elections myself.

“It has taken three to four years to get the point we are at now, with regeneration really about to take off.”

Cllr Spencer’s seat will be contested this year. He could not be reached for a comment.

The result was announced on Thursday night and Bolton Council leader, Cllr Linda Thomas, said: “Farnworth residents have every right to be irritated by the pace of change and I say: we hear you.

“The people of Farnworth have sent us a message, and it is up to us to understand and listen to that message.

“When I set out our vision in February I said the regeneration of Farnworth town centre is a top priority and that things must move quicker. This was not another promise, this was the starting gun for real and lasting action to turn the future of Farnworth around for good.”

Alastair Budd, director of asset management for St. Modwen, the firm behind the precinct development, said: “We continue to work closely with Bolton Council on the plans for Farnworth town centre. We have planning approval for a retail scheme and we are continuing with our lettings strategy to secure retailers to The Market Precinct. As soon as we are able to make any further announcements we will.”

Rebecca Minors was standing for the Labour party looking to replace Mr Ibrahim but was pipped to the post by a margin of 235 votes.

Ms Minors, whose partner Darren Whitehead was a Hulton ward councillor until his death in November, stood for election for the first time.

She said: “We have run a very positive campaign and spoken to lots of residents and the people of Farnworth have sent us a message and we will be out tomorrow for the May elections. It’s been fantastic and I’ve met so many wonderful, lovely people. It’s been a great experience.”

She did not rule out standing in future elections.

Results

David Figgins - Green Party - 18

Dave Harvey - UKIP - 169

Matthew Thomas Littler - Conservative - 153

Rebecca Jane Minors - Labour - 969

Paul David Sanders - Farnworth & Kearsley First Party - 1,204

David Andrew Walsh - Liberal Democrats - 23

Turnout - 24.32 per cent

Spoiled ballots - 7