Reform takes Labour leader’s seat in Boltonpublished at 08:44 BST
08:44 BST
Image source, LDRS
Reform won nine seats on Bolton Council including that of Labour Councillor Nick Peel, who led the council for the last three years.
Trevor Jones of Reform seized the ward of Tonge with the Haulgh, receiving 2,089 votes to Peel’s 1,329.
“National issues have played a part we have run a local campaign and tried to keep it about Bolton,” Peel told BBC Radio Manchester.
“The government has been harshly judged but the people have made their views known,” he added.
There were sustained celebrations from the Nigel Farage-led party’s supporters in Bolton Arena as they secured their first-ever victories in the borough, taking nine seats in the council chamber.
Jones said: “It’s been a great night for Reform in Bolton. We’re up to 10 councillors and it’s been through hard work.
It was also a chastening night for the Tories, who lost four seats to Reform, but a night of celebration for the Greens, who gained three seats from Labour.
The results leave the borough still under no overall control with an even more diverse mix of parties forming its political make up than previously.