Bolton Conservatives win seat in Rumworth after by-election

A by-election was called in Rumworth after a senior Labour councillor made the decision to step down earlier due to work commitments,

Cllr Ebrahim Adia, a former deputy leader of Bolton Labour, stepped down after becoming deputy chair of the Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board.

He said that new role meant he can no longer 'do justice' to his role on the council.

His seat was won by the Tory candidate Ayyub Patel.

Rumworth by-election (Image: UGC)

Leader of Bolton's Conservative Group, Cllr Martyn Cox said: “This is quite simply a stunning result for Bolton Conservatives. Full credit goes to Ayyub Patel and his team who have worked incredibly hard to win one of the safest Labour seats in the town. Rumworth now has two Conservative councillors who are committed to improving their area."

The win comes just weeks after Cllr Shamim Abdullah, also known as Rosie, joined the Bolton Conservatives.

She left the Labour group suddenly last February and represented Rumworth as an independent councillor.

The results from last night's by-election are

Conservative 1610

Labour 1102

Green 156

Lib Dem 36

Bolton for Change 24

Bolton's Conservative councillors

Leader of Bolton Labour Group, Cllr Nick Peel said: "Rumworth residents have suffered more than most over the years of austerity by the Tory Government, seeing deprivation rising significantly.

"Under the Tory Bolton Council, we have seen their green spaces threatened with development and the streets are no longer swept.

"On the face of it, it is therefore a mystery as to why a large part of the electorate would vote for more of the same, however you have to look at the Tory campaign to find the answer.

"The Tories in Bolton were quite open in saying that this election was not about party identity - they successfully distanced themselves from the Tory brand and campaigned almost as independents.

"Unfortunately for the people of Rumworth, it isn’t an independent who has been elected, and therefore we will see a stronger Tory Council with Rumworth people again bearing the brunt of future cuts to services and the unending cost of living crisis.

"Labour failed to get our message through, and for that we have to accept responsibility for the consequences that will bring.“

No party currently has overall control of Bolton Council, with the Conservatives the largest party with now 25 councillors, ahead of Labour with 19.

But the number is still short of the 31 needed to control the authority outright.