Vote 08: The Results

May 01, 2008

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THE Conservatives were the big winners in Greater Manchester as Labour took a pounding at the polls.

The Tories took outright control in Bury – their number one target for the night – after gaining three seats.

They failed to replace Labour as the biggest party in Bolton, as they had privately predicted, but made substantial gains in Salford, Oldham and Wigan.

In an early major upset, Roger Jones, one of the champions of the congestion charge for Greater Manchester, has lost his seat on Salford Council.

Mr Jones, chairman of the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority, came third in Irlam after his opponents made the proposed congestion charge the main election issue.

The seat was won by the Community Action Party and the Conservatives came second.

Rick Houlton, of the CAP, polled 1152 votes and Stephen Fitzsimmons, of the Conservaitve Party, received 832 votes. Mr Jones polled only 650 votes.

Mr Jones said: "I am now looking for a job for the first time since I left school".

The result will be seen as a major victory by opponents of the congestion charge.

The Conservatives achieved their target of taking control of Bury council, gaining the three seats needed to become the majority party.

But in Bolton, the party fell well short of making the gains needed to become the largest party. The Tories gained only one seat and Labour also gained a seat, leaving the council in No Overall Control.

In Oldham the Liberal Democrats fell just short of gaining a majority. Labour lost eight seats on the night and the Lib Dems are now in charge but it remains a hung council.

Click here to see the full break down of the vote in each borough.

Oldham – Labour lose to no overall control
Lib Dem 30 (+4)
Labour 23 (-8)
Conservative 7 (+4)
Others 0 (-)

Trafford – Conservative hold
Conservative 39 (-)
Labour 19 (-1)
Lib Dem 5 (+1)
Others 0 (-)

Bury - Conservative gain from no overall control
Conservative 26 (+3)
Labour 16 (-4)
Lib Dem 9 (+1)
Others 0 (-)
Turn out 38 per cent

Manchester – Labour hold
Labour 62 (-)
Lib Dem 33 (+1)
Conservative 1 (-)
Other 0 (-1)

Wigan – Labour hold
Labour 41 (-4)
CAP 8 (-2)
Con 14 (+4)
Lib Dem 4 (-)
Independent 7 (+2)
Vacant seat 1

Salford – Labour hold
Labour 36 (-6)
Conservative 13 (+3)
Lib Dem 10 (+2)
Others 1 (+1)

Tameside – Labour hold
Labour 44 (-1)
Conservative 10 (+2)
Lib Dem 0 (-1)
Others 3 (-)

Bolton – remains no overall control
Labour 27 (+1),
Con 23 (+1),
Lib Dem 9 (-2),
Others 1 (-)
Turnout 35 per cent

Rochdale - Lib Dem Hold
LibDem 33(+1)
Labour 19(-1)
Con 8 (no change)
Other 0 (no change)

Stockport – Lib Dem hold
Lib Dem 36 (-)
Labour 14 (-1)
Cons 10 (+1)
Others 3 (-)

Warrington – remains no overall control
Lib Dem 28 (+1),
Labour 22 (-2),
Conservative 7(+2),
Others 0 (-1)
Turnout 31 per cent

Click here to see the full break down of the vote in each borough.

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Showing comments 1 to 25 and replies | View All

Technobabble, Manchester (02/05/2008 at 00:52)

Mr Jones said: "I am now looking for a job for the first time since I left school".

Well what do you know: a professional politican with no experience of real life.

D P (02/05/2008 at 01:03)

See you later Roger, time to get back to the real world for you!

Munkey Boy, Audenshaw, Manchester (02/05/2008 at 01:35)

Shock horror, Roger went. In other news, everything else remains exactly the same.

Peter Roberts, Telford (02/05/2008 at 01:43)

What a pity Roger Jones will be looking for a real job, with real financial accountability and responsibility.

The congestion charge is and was a very bad idea. I hope this result sends a clear message to all politicians that we can and will relieve you of your well paid cushy jobs if you refuse to listen to the public. If Labour continues with road pricing and congestion charging, they will face the same fate at the next election. The money for the public transport improvements so badly needed in Manchester should be given with no strings attached.

Congestion charges result in roads for the rich, those least able to pay are denied access. What a shameful and disgraceful policy from a socialist government.

Munkey Boy, Audenshaw, Manchester (02/05/2008 at 01:47)

Peter Roberts: Yet it seems to be the Tories up in arms about road pricing. How does that work out? Do they suddenly have a conscience for the less well of? Pull the other one.

Call me Dave, Manchester (02/05/2008 at 01:55)

10p income tax - Congestion tax - New (labour) Tax

Fred Parker (02/05/2008 at 03:02)

Well Roger, don't say you were not warned. Where do you stand on the Congestion Charge now..... will you now be reduced to using public transport like the rest of us and seeing how dreadful it really is. Welcome to the real world.

PW, Manchester (02/05/2008 at 06:16)

Munkey Boy it's the nation that's sent the real message, and will have the power to get them from national control.

Once again, the socialists have gone too far with the people. They're in our hair, and all over us like a rash! But it's their incompetence that's also let them down. Some of us are very pleased indeed.

Roger Jones's P45 (formerly MC Spanner) (02/05/2008 at 06:55)

Ding Dong Roger's gone.

It wasn't the best night for the Con Chargers but the problem has not gone yet.

Jolly Roger will be replaced by another Labour man but this time from a ward that vote Labour even if Gordon Brown imprisoned half their families. Actually that's the sort of wards they win anyway.

Bolton - Complete disappointment for the cause BUT there is a referendum to come.

Bury should now Rocksolid against the charge but thanks to the moron who wanted a Mayoral vote, we have to wait and see.

Trafford - Anti Charge

Stockport - ANti charge for now

Oldham - Now Liberal majority but will need Conservative or Labour support. Wait & See. Enough Tory progess that the Liberals may want to not be seen to side with Labour.

Wigan & Salford - Inroads but still Labour control. It might take till 2011 to make a difference there.

Rochdale, Manchester, Tameside - Can't see any real changes.

Hopefully Bolton will still save the day and kill the charge but the balance will be down to the Lib Dems in Stockport staying solid or Oldham joining the cause.

Watch this space

John Drake, Manchester (02/05/2008 at 06:57)

Sorry, but your summary of the Manchester result doesn't match the break-down. The summary has -1 for Other and +1 overall for LD, with no overall loss of Lab, whereas the breakdown appears to show 2 seats Lab-->LD and one seat going the other way. Sort it out!

Fran M, Stockport (02/05/2008 at 07:11)

Roger Jones has been the public face of the CON tax and has paid the price. No doubt the rabid pro CON tax contingent will contiue to advocate the imposition without a referendum. If ever there was a clear indication that a referendum is needed it is the fate of Jolly Roger. His face is a picture to behold.

Bejjy ex Salford now Malta, Malta (02/05/2008 at 07:14)

After losing his seat on Salford Council, Roger Jones said "I am now looking for a job for the first time since I left school". I think that says it all about the mindset of politicians.

Mickey V, Irlam (02/05/2008 at 07:20)

This is the best news ever.
I have no sympathy whatsoever because this man was going to put thousands of us out of work, me included with this congestion charge scam.
May I suggest that 'Mr' Jones now writes to that traitor Tony Blair and thank him for introducing a tax scam that has seen him lose his job.
Whoever takes over from him in championing the congestion charge for Labour...think again if you want to hold onto your job come the next round of elections.

Openshaw Bob (02/05/2008 at 07:34)

"I am now looking for a job for the first time since I left school".

Good. Many more would have been looking for jobs once their city centre businesses closed due to the congestion charge.

In the know (02/05/2008 at 07:48)

Don't be surprised when it is announced Roger is working as a consultant for the congestion charge in future months.

kailash, Stalybridge (02/05/2008 at 08:11)

What do you expect? when Labour the architect of the NHS start dismantling it, The Rich and Poor divide gets bigger by the day as direct result of 'New Labour policies. All flying in the face of what Labour used to stand for. In all my years, i have not seen a more dysfunctional government than this.A fundamental review of the policies with change of leadership is needed ASAP.

Chris, Irlam (02/05/2008 at 08:12)

BYE BYE ROGER JONES!

EXCELLENT RESULT!

When will the pro-toll trolls realise we don't want the Toll Tax?

Well done Irlam, the CAP & MART!

Alan Kelly (02/05/2008 at 08:14)

Is it me but did it take 10 minutes less time to get into work this morning because there was less congestion following the demise of Mr Jones?

Spooky or what????

Anthony, Accrington,Lancashire (02/05/2008 at 08:24)

Labour have wrecked this country and have just carried on the damage of the Tories since they came to power;unfair yearly bus/train ticket price/fare rises,high food and fuel prices,soft on youth nuisance and crime,opening the floodgates to immigrants and asylumseekers without any limits and not sending back illegals without documents or with false documents etc,wanting to introduce and force id cards on everybody and threatening everybody who refuses to do so with jail,pulverising and penalising those who need cars to go to work etc with high taxes,building housing estates on floodplains,selling off playing fields for housing,and other ridiculous things. I have voted BNP because all three main parties are bad as one another and they don't take a blind bit of notice to what the people of this country have to say or put it into action at all.

shayla (02/05/2008 at 08:26)

Now Mr Jones, time to practice what you have been preaching.

Get on the bus, tram and train and get yourself to work every like the rest of us, oh, don't you have to give back your car too?

You'll soon find how expensive it is to run a car now.

Don't say we didn't warn you what would happen if you didn't listen to your people.

BYE BYE.

ruth davis (02/05/2008 at 08:32)

Fantastic news about Jones,now he does not get that huge salary and expenses perhaps he will have to get rid of his big car and stand at the bus stop and train station like the rest of us.

Pentest (02/05/2008 at 08:35)

Oh dear Roger, I am sorry for you ...he he ...snigger snigger. Thats what you get for treating the people of Manchester with complacency Re: congestion charge. Rogers dismissal has the makings of a superb Bank Holiday weekend.

An Other, Swinton (02/05/2008 at 08:45)

Well done Technobabble, you took the words right out of my mouth. Ex-Salford councillor Jones of Irlam, and now former GMPTE chairman, admits that he hasn't had a real job all his life, so now he can get a proper job and see what horrors await him beyond those rose tinted windows at the Civic centre.

alvinlwh (02/05/2008 at 09:33)

Mr Brown told the people to vote on local issues and the people did. What he did not see (as usual) is Labour's local policy is not what the locals really want. This is a perfect example of what people want, not what a few minority that managed to shout their way into the headlines, claiming what they shout was what the 'majority' want. This is diplomacy at its best, the silent majority speaking out through the ballot papers, shooting down the loud mouthed minority in the process.

This is a lesson to all parties, just because some loud mouth managed to shout their way to the headlines claiming, they are what people want, it is not the truth. Instead of jumping on to the bandwagon and 'standing by' whoever is in the headlines of the day is a very bad move.

Now the head for this CONcharge nonsense is gone, we need to move on to national issues like the silly plastic bag tax.

Pampa (02/05/2008 at 10:06)

When after over 50 years will the people of Manchester stop voting for a blind,lame,dog if it had a labour coat on. Then we may get away from a overspending (stupid items) s--t tip city.
Mancunian Pampa

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