Disillusioned voters give Labour kicking in native elections after promising change however ‘nothing ever adjustments’

Labour swept into power promising “change” – but locals in Salford have been underwhelmed by their time in office

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Labour has taken a kicking in the local elections as the ‘Red Wall’ crumbles – with Reform and the Greens taking advantage.

Keir Starmer’s party swept to power in the general election just two years ago on the promise of “change” – but the public has clearly been underwhelmed by their time in office so far.

Across Greater Manchester – where they have been the dominant party for decades – dozens of Labour councillors lost their seats. The Greens dominated in Manchester, subjecting Labour to a miserable day with the party losing major scalps, including its deputy leader.

In the surrounding towns, Reform’s vote surge claimed major gains in Wigan, Bolton and Tameside – while the Lib Dems took control in Stockport.

Nigel Farage’s party also enjoyed success in Salford – which has been Labour controlled for decades. Across the borough Labour lost 13 seats, with Reform gaining 13, while the Greens picked up three. As only 21 of the 60 seats were up for election, Labour remains in overall control, despite their losses.

Rebecca Long-Bailey, Labour MP for Salford, said the results were devastating: “It’s just soul destroying. I think we’ve lost so many good councillors tonight who didn’t deserve to lose their seats. Good candidates standing for the first or second time that should have won.

“It’s not on them this terrible defeat in Salford tonight. They’ve been working hard for the city and the national party needs to understand the scale of the defeat. It isn’t just about a few things here and there, it’s about fundamental trust in the party and the fact that over the last 12 months we’ve done things that were silly.”

But in Eccles town centre, there was little sympathy for the party – with locals saying the “change” promised has failed to materialise.

The centre is dominated by a giant Morrisons supermarket with the main shopping street a mixture of closed units, pubs, barbers and vape shops. Locals have been calling for investment to boost the area for years – with disillusioned residents saying little will change, whoever is in charge.

Mark Cowlishaw said: “Labour has massively messed up the country. Everything is going up in price, nothing down. All my mates have gone to Reform, maybe they will take some action now.”

Sarah Kassim, landlady on the Old Bulls Head, said: “Trying to run a business with all the taxes is hard. These parties tell us one thing, then we get told other things, then something else happens. The price of things is just horrendous. We’ve had this for years, but nothing ever changes so people are saying ‘sod it’. That’s how it feels.”

Pub regular David Oakes said: “The Conservatives messed up, Labour have messed up. And I don’t like Nigel Farage. Who else have we got? There’s no-one out there to vote for. I’ve not been taken in by Farage. I think he could be dangerous. I can see that he has won support by always saying ‘stop the boats’.

“That’s his main thing, he has a point that we can’t keep accepting people, it’s a shame. But I don’t know what else he stands for.”

His friend Pete Batty said: “I remember when Farage was in the jungle for the money. They all have their hands in the pot. He’s played the immigration situation well. At the last election Labour promised change. But nothing changes, Every government is the same. Salford has always been a Labour stronghold, ever since I was little. But I don’t think it matters, whoever is in charge.”

On the other side of Manchester, Labour lost the stronghold of Tameside – which includes the parliamentary seat of Angela Rayner – which they had controlled for 47 years.

Rob Barrowcliffe, chair of Tameside Reform UK said: “It was well beyond my expectations. 18 out of 19’s not so bad! It’s clear by the result that the people of Tameside are fed up, and they’re demanding change. People just want common sense, they want decency, they want fairness.”

In Manchester it was the Greens who enjoyed success, winning 17 more seats while in Wigan Reform picked up 24 seats.

In Stockport, the Lib Dems took overall control of the council for the first time since 2011. Council leader Mark Roberts said: “We show time and time again that the Liberal Democrats are the way to beat Reform, and Liberal Democrat areas don’t vote Reform,.”