Parties set out their case for your vote
THE people of Rochdale will hit the polling stations for the second time in 2024 at the start of May as they choose who they want to be their next local councillors.
A total of 92 candidates are vying to take one of the 20 council seats available out of 60.
The political make-up of the council is dominated by Labour, which currently has 46 councillors.
Labour candidates, Conservatives, Lib Dems, Greens, Middleton Independents and the Workers Party are all competing to get into the council chamber. The Rochdale byelection saw the Workers Party leader George Galloway become the town’s newest MP following the death of Sir Tony Lloyd.
After his victory in February, Mr Galloway instantly put Rochdale Labour on notice, vowing to oust them from the council.
The election campaign has been turbulent so far, with Mr Galloway issuing a press release endorsing not only Workers Party candidates, but Middleton Independents and Lib Dems in certain wards.
That has caused tension between political parties, particularly Labour, which felt ‘the grand alliance’ promised by Galloway was becoming a reality.
Both the Middleton Independents and the Lib Dems have denied any association with the Rochdale MP and have stated they don’t need or want his support.
Since then there have been jibes and comments thrown back and forth between party candidates.
Despite that, Labour will want to build on the election last year which saw them increase their stranglehold on the chamber after taking two seats from the Middleton Independents and one seat from the Conservatives.
Each party has put forward their promises and statements for voters...