← Oldham (all cycles) · 4 May 2023 cohort

Oldham 2023

Local elections held 4 May 2023.

20 ward races

60 seats

55 elected below the proportional quota

91.7% of seats below quota

How to read this page

Each race below shows the share of valid ballots the marginal elected candidate actually won, and compares it to the proportional quota: the share that would be needed to be guaranteed that seat under any proportional voting method (1 seats + 1). For a 1-seat ward the quota is 50%; for 2 seats, 33.3%; for 3 seats, 25%.

Where the actual winning share fell below the quota, we show the gap as points under par — the editorial indictment. Above-par results are just majority mandates and pass without comment. The voting method is the subject of every observation here. Named candidates appear as the public election record requires; the cause being audited is the voting method, not the individuals. See the methodology page for derivations.

If votes were counted by party

Across the 20 wards in this cycle, parties received the vote totals below. The proportional column shows what each party would have won if the 60 seats had been allocated to those vote totals in proportion (how, with caveats). The Δ column is the actual seat count minus the proportional seat count — positive numbers are parties First-Past-the-Post over-represented in this council, negative are parties it under-represented.

Party	Votes	Vote %	Seats won	% of seats	Proportional seats	Proportional %	Δ
Labour Party	69,794	45.9%	32	53.3%	29	48.3%	+3
Conservative and Unionist Party	26,453	17.4%	11	18.3%	11	18.3%	0
Liberal Democrats	26,388	17.4%	10	16.7%	10	16.7%	0
Independent	23,442	15.4%	4	6.7%	9	15.0%	-5
FAIL IND	3,096	2.0%	3	5.0%	1	1.7%	+2
NH	1,762	1.2%	0	0.0%	0	0.0%	0
Alliance for Democracy and Freedom	739	0.5%	0	0.0%	0	0.0%	0
NHP	205	0.1%	0	0.0%	0	0.0%	0
FFS-FA	71	0.0%	0	0.0%	0	0.0%	0
Total	151,950	100.0%	60	100.0%	60	100.0%	0

Vote share vs seats won

The top bar is each party's share of votes cast in this council. Below, one square per seat, coloured by the party that won it — first the actual First-Past-the-Post result, then what a proportional method would have produced from the same vote totals. Divergence between the bar and the actual grid is the indictment of the method.

Vote share

Actual seats

Proportional seats

Wards in this council

Sorted with the largest gap below the quota first. Click any ward to jump to its full result.

Saddleworth North · 3 seats · won at 12.7% · +12.3 pts below quota
St James' · 3 seats · won at 13.2% · +11.8 pts below quota
Saddleworth South · 3 seats · won at 13.3% · +11.7 pts below quota
Royton South · 3 seats · won at 14.4% · +10.6 pts below quota
Hollinwood · 3 seats · won at 14.4% · +10.6 pts below quota
Royton North · 3 seats · won at 14.6% · +10.4 pts below quota
Failsworth West · 3 seats · won at 15.0% · +10.0 pts below quota
Coldhurst · 3 seats · won at 15.8% · +9.2 pts below quota
Shaw · 3 seats · won at 15.9% · +9.1 pts below quota
Chadderton North · 3 seats · won at 16.1% · +8.9 pts below quota
Crompton · 3 seats · won at 17.8% · +7.2 pts below quota
St Mary's · 3 seats · won at 17.8% · +7.2 pts below quota
Waterhead · 3 seats · won at 18.1% · +6.9 pts below quota
Saddleworth West & Lees · 3 seats · won at 18.8% · +6.2 pts below quota
Failsworth East · 3 seats · won at 19.0% · +6.0 pts below quota
Chadderton Central · 3 seats · won at 20.2% · +4.8 pts below quota
Werneth · 3 seats · won at 21.2% · +3.8 pts below quota
Chadderton South · 3 seats · won at 21.7% · +3.3 pts below quota
Alexandra · 3 seats · won at 24.6% · +0.4 pts below quota
Medlock Vale · 3 seats · won at 24.7% · +0.3 pts below quota

Race results

Saddleworth North · 3-seat (bloc vote)

Marginal winner 12.7% Proportional quota 25.0% Difference +12.3 pts below quota Valid ballots 8,269

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Byrne, P.	Conservative and Unionist Party	1,134	13.7%	Elected
2	Lancaster, L.	Conservative and Unionist Party	1,064	12.9%	Elected
3	Harkness, G.	Liberal Democrats	1,050	12.7%	Elected
4	Thompson, L.	Liberal Democrats	912	11.0%
5	Shipp, P.	Labour Party	858	10.4%
6	Pyefinch, S.	Conservative and Unionist Party	767	9.3%
7	Powell, M.	Liberal Democrats	767	9.3%
8	Ford, G.	Labour Party	733	8.9%
9	Kershaw, G.	Independent	451	5.5%
10	Hodgson, S.	Independent	282	3.4%
11	Stevenson, P.	Independent	251	3.0%

Electorate 7,747 · Ballots cast 8,269 · Back to ward index

St James' · 3-seat (bloc vote)

Marginal winner 13.2% Proportional quota 25.0% Difference +11.8 pts below quota Valid ballots 5,609

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Sharp, B.	Conservative and Unionist Party	871	15.5%	Elected
2	Cosgrove, A.	Labour Party	848	15.1%	Elected
3	Charters, J.	Labour Party	743	13.2%	Elected
4	Munroe, L.	Labour Party	731	13.0%
5	Craig-Weston, J.	Conservative and Unionist Party	709	12.6%
6	Sharp, J.	Conservative and Unionist Party	705	12.6%
7	Lindo Crooks, A.	Independent	522	9.3%
8	Dawson, K.	Liberal Democrats	238	4.2%
9	Gloster, J.	Liberal Democrats	124	2.2%
10	Hindle, R.	Liberal Democrats	118	2.1%

Electorate 7,991 · Ballots cast 5,609 · Back to ward index

Saddleworth South · 3-seat (bloc vote)

Marginal winner 13.3% Proportional quota 25.0% Difference +11.7 pts below quota Valid ballots 8,810

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Sheldon, G.	Conservative and Unionist Party	1,449	16.4%	Elected
2	Bishop, H.	Liberal Democrats	1,225	13.9%	Elected
3	Woodvine, M.	Conservative and Unionist Party	1,176	13.3%	Elected
4	Blackmore, R.	Liberal Democrats	1,019	11.6%
5	McManus, C.	Conservative and Unionist Party	997	11.3%
6	Wall, D.	Labour Party	858	9.7%
7	Javed, T.	Labour Party	750	8.5%
8	Beeston, J.	Liberal Democrats	673	7.6%
9	Tarbuck, G.	Independent	663	7.5%

Electorate 8,117 · Ballots cast 8,810 · Back to ward index

Royton South · 3-seat (bloc vote)

Marginal winner 14.4% Proportional quota 25.0% Difference +10.6 pts below quota Valid ballots 6,538

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Hurley, M.	Independent	1,039	15.9%	Elected
2	Bashforth, M.	Labour Party	978	15.0%	Elected
3	Bashforth, S.	Labour Party	944	14.4%	Elected
4	Chadderton, A.	Labour Party	923	14.1%
5	Hughes, J.	Independent	837	12.8%
6	Ratcliffe, D.	Independent	757	11.6%
7	Prince, A.	Independent	427	6.5%
8	Gosling, R.	Liberal Democrats	215	3.3%
9	Penketh, T.	Liberal Democrats	199	3.0%
10	Garner, J.	Liberal Democrats	148	2.3%
11	Omeltschenko, A.	FFS-FA	71	1.1%

Electorate 7,523 · Ballots cast 6,538 · Back to ward index

Hollinwood · 3-seat (bloc vote)

Marginal winner 14.4% Proportional quota 25.0% Difference +10.6 pts below quota Valid ballots 6,672

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Ghafoor, K.	Conservative and Unionist Party	1,085	16.3%	Elected
2	Wahid, A.	Conservative and Unionist Party	972	14.6%	Elected
3	Irfan, M.	Conservative and Unionist Party	964	14.4%	Elected
4	Roberts, H.	Labour Party	944	14.1%
5	Phythian, K.	Labour Party	924	13.8%
6	Williams, S.	Labour Party	876	13.1%
7	Whitehead, B.	Independent	279	4.2%
8	Whitehead, I.	Independent	221	3.3%
9	Lawrence, J.	NHP	205	3.1%
10	Barton, K.	Liberal Democrats	202	3.0%

Electorate 8,416 · Ballots cast 6,672 · Back to ward index

Royton North · 3-seat (bloc vote)

Marginal winner 14.6% Proportional quota 25.0% Difference +10.4 pts below quota Valid ballots 8,101

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Arnott, D.	Conservative and Unionist Party	1,289	15.9%	Elected
2	Adams, C.	Conservative and Unionist Party	1,255	15.5%	Elected
3	Quigg, L.	Conservative and Unionist Party	1,182	14.6%	Elected
4	Harwood, M.	Labour Party	1,142	14.1%
5	Phythian, C.	Labour Party	1,046	12.9%
6	Shuttleworth, S.	Labour Party	981	12.1%
7	Burrows, C.	Alliance for Democracy and Freedom	273	3.4%
8	Mills, J.	Alliance for Democracy and Freedom	235	2.9%
9	Goldring, P.	Alliance for Democracy and Freedom	231	2.9%
10	Lord, B.	Liberal Democrats	168	2.1%
11	Flores, E.	Liberal Democrats	158	2.0%
12	Swift, K.	Liberal Democrats	141	1.7%

Electorate 8,581 · Ballots cast 8,101 · Back to ward index

Failsworth West · 3-seat (bloc vote)

Marginal winner 15.0% Proportional quota 25.0% Difference +10.0 pts below quota Valid ballots 5,690

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Ball, S.	Independent	1,010	17.8%	Elected
2	Davis, P.	Labour Party	929	16.3%	Elected
3	Fryer, P.	Labour Party	854	15.0%	Elected
4	Brady, A.	Independent	769	13.5%
5	Wilkinson, M.	Independent	751	13.2%
6	Linton, D.	Labour Party	671	11.8%
7	Cashinella-Vaughan, J.	FAIL IND	409	7.2%
8	Hurley, A.	Conservative and Unionist Party	191	3.4%
9	Powell, E.	Liberal Democrats	106	1.9%

Electorate 7,778 · Ballots cast 5,690 · Back to ward index

Coldhurst · 3-seat (bloc vote)

Marginal winner 15.8% Proportional quota 25.0% Difference +9.2 pts below quota Valid ballots 13,358

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Jabbar, A.	Labour Party	2,775	20.8%	Elected
2	Malik, A.	Labour Party	2,255	16.9%	Elected
3	Surjan, R.	Labour Party	2,107	15.8%	Elected
4	Azad, M.	Independent	1,935	14.5%
5	Abu Taleb, M.	Independent	1,275	9.5%
6	Akmol, N.	Independent	915	6.8%
7	Amin, B.	Liberal Democrats	309	2.3%
8	Pendlebury, R.	Liberal Democrats	262	2.0%
9	Uddin, A.	Independent	259	1.9%
10	Malik, A.	Independent	214	1.6%
11	Ali, M.	Independent	181	1.4%
12	Ahmed, S.	Conservative and Unionist Party	167	1.3%
13	Ali, A.	Independent	166	1.2%
14	Uddin, H.	Liberal Democrats	141	1.1%
15	Alam, S.	Conservative and Unionist Party	134	1.0%
16	Hannan, M.	Conservative and Unionist Party	132	1.0%
17	Mustak, M.	Independent	131	1.0%

Electorate 9,515 · Ballots cast 13,358 · Back to ward index

Shaw · 3-seat (bloc vote)

Marginal winner 15.9% Proportional quota 25.0% Difference +9.1 pts below quota Valid ballots 5,740

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Hince, M.	Independent	998	17.4%	Elected
2	Sykes, H.	Liberal Democrats	938	16.3%	Elected
3	Gloster, H.	Liberal Democrats	911	15.9%	Elected
4	Gloster, C.	Liberal Democrats	895	15.6%
5	Navesey, L.	Independent	872	15.2%
6	Birchall, M.	Labour Party	381	6.6%
7	Ali, S.	Labour Party	297	5.2%
8	Rashid, D.	Labour Party	256	4.5%
9	Kayum, M.	Conservative and Unionist Party	67	1.2%
10	Rahman, M.	Conservative and Unionist Party	63	1.1%
11	Rahman, S.	Conservative and Unionist Party	62	1.1%

Electorate 7,314 · Ballots cast 5,740 · Back to ward index

Chadderton North · 3-seat (bloc vote)

Marginal winner 16.1% Proportional quota 25.0% Difference +8.9 pts below quota Valid ballots 7,580

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Brownridge, B.	Labour Party	1,299	17.1%	Elected
2	McLaren, C.	Labour Party	1,242	16.4%	Elected
3	Moores, E.	Labour Party	1,218	16.1%	Elected
4	Bardsley, K.	Conservative and Unionist Party	1,076	14.2%
5	Ford, J.	Conservative and Unionist Party	1,067	14.1%
6	Ahmed, M.	Conservative and Unionist Party	992	13.1%
7	Cadman, D.	Liberal Democrats	318	4.2%
8	Gloster, K.	Liberal Democrats	203	2.7%
9	Scholes, M.	Liberal Democrats	165	2.2%

Electorate 8,451 · Ballots cast 7,580 · Back to ward index

Crompton · 3-seat (bloc vote)

Marginal winner 17.8% Proportional quota 25.0% Difference +7.2 pts below quota Valid ballots 6,107

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Murphy, D.	Liberal Democrats	1,136	18.6%	Elected
2	Hamblett, L.	Liberal Democrats	1,109	18.2%	Elected
3	Williamson, D.	Liberal Democrats	1,087	17.8%	Elected
4	Navesey, L.	Independent	736	12.1%
5	Barker, D.	Labour Party	490	8.0%
6	Rustidge, K.	Labour Party	466	7.6%
7	Choudhary, L.	Labour Party	358	5.9%
8	Stockton, M.	Conservative and Unionist Party	329	5.4%
9	Ahmed, M.	Conservative and Unionist Party	200	3.3%
10	Chowdhury, M.	Conservative and Unionist Party	196	3.2%

Electorate 7,815 · Ballots cast 6,107 · Back to ward index

St Mary's · 3-seat (bloc vote)

Marginal winner 17.8% Proportional quota 25.0% Difference +7.2 pts below quota Valid ballots 10,801

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Shah, A.	Labour Party	2,743	25.4%	Elected
2	Aftab, H.	Independent	2,361	21.9%	Elected
3	Salamat, A.	Labour Party	1,926	17.8%	Elected
4	Kouser, A.	Independent	1,658	15.4%
5	Rana, G.	Labour Party	1,336	12.4%
6	Rowlinson, Z.	Liberal Democrats	236	2.2%
7	Hussain, M.	Liberal Democrats	209	1.9%
8	Ahmed, M.	Conservative and Unionist Party	141	1.3%
9	Begum, A.	Conservative and Unionist Party	107	1.0%
10	Khatun, H.	Conservative and Unionist Party	84	0.8%

Electorate 8,735 · Ballots cast 10,801 · Back to ward index

Waterhead · 3-seat (bloc vote)

Marginal winner 18.1% Proportional quota 25.0% Difference +6.9 pts below quota Valid ballots 6,928

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Iqbal, N.	Labour Party	1,448	20.9%	Elected
2	Dean, P.	Labour Party	1,304	18.8%	Elected
3	Birch, R.	Labour Party	1,253	18.1%	Elected
4	Hussain, S.	Conservative and Unionist Party	849	12.3%
5	Dawson, L.	Liberal Democrats	395	5.7%
6	Allsopp, S.	Independent	346	5.0%
7	Taylor, P.	NH	329	4.7%
8	Fiander-Taylor, A.	NH	282	4.1%
9	Wild, R.	Liberal Democrats	268	3.9%
10	Vance, R.	NH	246	3.6%
11	Miah, I.	Independent	208	3.0%

Electorate 8,612 · Ballots cast 6,928 · Back to ward index

Saddleworth West & Lees · 3-seat (bloc vote)

Marginal winner 18.8% Proportional quota 25.0% Difference +6.2 pts below quota Valid ballots 7,907

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Al-Hamdani, S.	Liberal Democrats	1,600	20.2%	Elected
2	Marland, A.	Liberal Democrats	1,564	19.8%	Elected
3	Kenyon, M.	Liberal Democrats	1,483	18.8%	Elected
4	Shilton, P.	Independent	660	8.3%
5	Barter, D.	Labour Party	446	5.6%
6	Battye, J.	Labour Party	445	5.6%
7	Marshall, C.	Independent	430	5.4%
8	Johnson, S.	Independent	420	5.3%
9	Leach, V.	Labour Party	382	4.8%
10	Hopkinson, T.	Conservative and Unionist Party	192	2.4%
11	Walker, G.	Conservative and Unionist Party	175	2.2%
12	Rahman, M.	Conservative and Unionist Party	110	1.4%

Electorate 8,257 · Ballots cast 7,907 · Back to ward index

Failsworth East · 3-seat (bloc vote)

Marginal winner 19.0% Proportional quota 25.0% Difference +6.0 pts below quota Valid ballots 4,568

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Hobin, B.	FAIL IND	944	20.7%	Elected
2	Hindle, N.	FAIL IND	877	19.2%	Elected
3	Rea, L.	FAIL IND	866	19.0%	Elected
4	Fryer, A.	Labour Party	848	18.6%
5	Haque, F.	Labour Party	560	12.3%
6	Holt, B.	Conservative and Unionist Party	246	5.4%
7	Beeley, B.	Liberal Democrats	227	5.0%

Electorate 7,853 · Ballots cast 4,568 · Back to ward index

Chadderton Central · 3-seat (bloc vote)

Marginal winner 20.2% Proportional quota 25.0% Difference +4.8 pts below quota Valid ballots 7,874

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Ali, M.	Labour Party	1,843	23.4%	Elected
2	Islam, M.	Labour Party	1,786	22.7%	Elected
3	Taylor, E.	Labour Party	1,587	20.2%	Elected
4	Razon, M.	Conservative and Unionist Party	781	9.9%
5	Qurashi, M.	Conservative and Unionist Party	430	5.5%
6	Miah, T.	Conservative and Unionist Party	370	4.7%
7	Jackson, C.	NH	248	3.1%
8	Gartside, J.	NH	243	3.1%
9	Basit, A.	NH	184	2.3%
10	Cator, C.	Liberal Democrats	168	2.1%
11	Mayall, S.	Liberal Democrats	152	1.9%
12	Rahim, F.	Liberal Democrats	82	1.0%

Electorate 7,866 · Ballots cast 7,874 · Back to ward index

Werneth · 3-seat (bloc vote)

Marginal winner 21.2% Proportional quota 25.0% Difference +3.8 pts below quota Valid ballots 12,892

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Akhtar, S.	Labour Party	2,923	22.7%	Elected
2	Hussain, F.	Labour Party	2,788	21.6%	Elected
3	Ibrahim, N.	Labour Party	2,731	21.2%	Elected
4	Ali, A.	Liberal Democrats	1,700	13.2%
5	Abdul, M.	Liberal Democrats	1,496	11.6%
6	Chowdhury, F.	Conservative and Unionist Party	476	3.7%
7	Pendlebury, K.	Liberal Democrats	395	3.1%
8	Miah, M.	Conservative and Unionist Party	204	1.6%
9	Khan, S.	Conservative and Unionist Party	179	1.4%

Electorate 9,211 · Ballots cast 12,892 · Back to ward index

Chadderton South · 3-seat (bloc vote)

Marginal winner 21.7% Proportional quota 25.0% Difference +3.3 pts below quota Valid ballots 5,498

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Shuttleworth, G.	Labour Party	1,228	22.3%	Elected
2	Goodwin, C.	Labour Party	1,219	22.2%	Elected
3	Harrison, H.	Labour Party	1,192	21.7%	Elected
4	Bates, W.	Independent	529	9.6%
5	Alom, M.	Conservative and Unionist Party	367	6.7%
6	Hussain, J.	Conservative and Unionist Party	301	5.5%
7	Miah, M.	Conservative and Unionist Party	259	4.7%
8	Lord, A.	Liberal Democrats	246	4.5%
9	Habib, M.	Liberal Democrats	157	2.9%

Electorate 8,730 · Ballots cast 5,498 · Back to ward index

Alexandra · 3-seat (bloc vote)

Marginal winner 24.6% Proportional quota 25.0% Difference +0.4 pts below quota Valid ballots 5,389

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Chauhan, Z.	Labour Party	1,462	27.1%	Elected
2	Mushtaq, S.	Labour Party	1,358	25.2%	Elected
3	Harrison, J.	Labour Party	1,327	24.6%	Elected
4	Dinoff, M.	Liberal Democrats	250	4.6%
5	Yasir, M.	Independent	246	4.6%
6	Brophy, S.	NH	230	4.3%
7	Thompson, R.	Liberal Democrats	225	4.2%
8	Ahmed, J.	Conservative and Unionist Party	157	2.9%
9	Chowdhury, M.	Conservative and Unionist Party	134	2.5%

Electorate 7,458 · Ballots cast 5,389 · Back to ward index

Medlock Vale · 3-seat (bloc vote)

Marginal winner 24.7% Proportional quota 25.0% Difference +0.3 pts below quota Valid ballots 7,619

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Hussain, S.	Labour Party	1,997	26.2%	Elected
2	Hussain, J.	Labour Party	1,906	25.0%	Elected
3	Nasheen, U.	Labour Party	1,879	24.7%	Elected
4	Birchall, M.	Independent	532	7.0%
5	Farnworth, L.	Liberal Democrats	301	4.0%
6	Farnworth, S.	Liberal Democrats	297	3.9%
7	Akhtar, T.	Conservative and Unionist Party	213	2.8%
8	Rahman, M.	Conservative and Unionist Party	212	2.8%
9	Hussain, A.	Conservative and Unionist Party	171	2.2%
10	Raza, W.	Independent	111	1.5%

Electorate 8,463 · Ballots cast 7,619 · Back to ward index