Not so long ago, jubilant Labour councillors hailed a ‘historic 96’ triumph as any remnant of opposition in the town hall chamber was wiped out. Sir Richard Leese’s administration faced criticism as the city became a ‘one-party’ state – unequivocally and undeniably red.
Labour was too busy being all powerful to care. The joy of May 2015 and that landmark clean sweep are but a distant memory in 2026.
A seismic shift in Mancunian politics quickly became clear as the ballot boxes were emptied at this year’s local elections. The Greens, still buzzing from Hannah Spencer’s victory at the Gorton and Denton by-election in February, will be the ones celebrating into the night this time around.
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Before the elections, Labour held 87 of the 96 council seats in Manchester. There were four Lib Dems; three Greens; one independent; and one Workers Party of Britain councillor.
Some 32 seats were up for grabs this year. Labour held 27 of them before voters had their say. As the results came in, it was clear a dent – a massive dent – would be made.
As thumbs flicked ballot papers, Labour sources said ’10 to 15 losses would be a good day’. It was far worse than that. Many a Manc will struggle to remember local elections like these in the city.
As it was, 18 seats went to the Greens; seven to Reform; and one to the Lib Dems. Labour won in six wards and ended the day 24 seats down. There were scalpings aplenty – including deputy leader Joanna Midgley; executive members Lee-Ann Igbon and Rabnawaz Akbar; and ceremonial lord mayor Carmine Grimshaw.
Green MP Hannah Spencer turned up to the Manchester count to show support for her party (Image: Kenny Brown | Manchester Evening News)
Labour boss and council leader Bev Craig said: “I’m really sad for the people that have lost their seats. We’ve lost a lot of hardworking local councillors. It’s been a difficult day – and a difficult night- for the Labour party across the country.”
Coun Craig said the party would take time to reflect on ‘what led [the voters] to do things differently at the ballot box’, adding: “Manchester Labour will bounce back. We’re still running the council. We’ve got a big job to do.”
When the counting was done, the composition of the council chamber looked very different. Labour is now on 63, down 24; the Greens 21, up 17; Reform seven, up seven; the Lib Dems four, with no change; and there’s still one independent.
Beth Hartness, 21, won in Withington. She said the ‘Green wave is coming’ as she celebrated her victory by nearly 600 votes. Winning Longsight candidate Asif Iqbal Ranjha gave most of his winning speech in Urdu, arm-in-arm with Green MP Ms Spencer.
Winning in Levenshulme with a majority of more than 2,000 votes, the Green’s Fesl Reza-Khan gave an impassioned speech, telling supporters: “It has been very hard for the Muslim community as we have been the fulcrum point of attacks from certain quarters. I’m an immigrant and I’ve been told I don’t belong. To anyone who has been the butt of hate – hope is back.
Manchester’s council leader Bev Craig is all smiles despite a tough election for her party (Image: Kenny Brown | Manchester Evening News)
“This is a message from Manchester to the whole country. Red pill, blue pill… that ends today. There are other options. We’re doing it in Manchester, we’re going to do it everywhere.”
Celebrations among the Reform camp were more understated. Winning candidate in the Sharston ward, David McCulloch, seemed surprised by his win, by a majority of less than 200 votes. “I don’t know what to say… I’ll do me best,” he said.
Now ex-Labour councillor Ali Ilyas, who lost his Fallowfield seat, said: “I just want to say ‘thank you’ to the people who have supported me over the years. I loved representing my community. I will be back. Good luck to the Greens.”
Lib Dem veteran John Leech held on to his Didsbury West seat. He said: “It has been a difficult election. We’re the real opposition on the council and we will continue to be so.”
Now former deputy leader of the council Joanna Midgley narrowly lost her Chorlton Park seat to Green candidate Grace Worrall – by 116 votes. She declined to comment. A Green party source said that was an unexpected win for the party.
Members of the Labour Party had a tough day(Image: Kenny Brown | Manchester Evening News)
Labour stalwart and ex-executive member for finance and resources Rabnawaz Akbar lost his Rusholme seat to Green candidate Shams Syed.
He said it was ‘not a reflection of [him], personally’, but how people felt about Labour nationally. “I was first elected in 2010 and I never saw it as a safe seat,” he said. “Each time, I’ve tried to earn the votes and trust of the people. I can hold my head high.”
Green MP Ms Spencer said people in Manchester were ‘ready for a different way of doing politics’, adding: “There’s a better way, one that’s more hopeful and brings people together.”
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