RED WALL

LABOUR SET TO CONTROL 9 OUT OF 10 COUNCILS AS THE LIB DEMS AND GREENS ALSO CELEBRATE

- DAMON WILKINSON

LABOUR looks set to control nine out of 10 councils in Greater Manchester following a grim night for the Conservatives.

Cracks in the Red Wall could be patched up if the results of the local elections in places such as Bolton, Heywood, Middleton, Leigh and Wigan are replicated at the next General Election. Only Stockport, where the Lib Dems came within a whisker of taking overall control after wiping out the Tories, held out against Labour's dominance.

Bolton: New leader on cards with Labour now biggest party

There was drama in Bolton overnight as the Conservatives lost seven seats and their position as the largest party in the borough. Going into the election no party was in overall control of the council - and remains the case.

But Labour are now firmly in the driving seat and taking five wards, meaning they have 26 out of the 60 seats. Following the result Bolton's Labour leader Nick Peel staked his claim to become the next boss of the council.

"I will say to the independent parties and Lib Dems that the public of Bolton profoundly rejected the Tories," he told the Local Democracy. Reporting Service. "Please don't prop up a lame duck Tory administration that has now been rejected. If they do that then yes I do expect to form an administration."

Bury: Labour increase majority

Labour increased its majority on a comfortable night for the ruling party in Bury. Taking seats from the Tories and the Lib Dems, means Labour now controls 31 of the borough's 50 wards.

The biggest surprise came in the traditional Conservative stronghold of Pilkington Park, where Labour's Michael Rubinstein ousted Bury's former Tory leader Nick Jones. The result was greeted with deafening cheers from those wearing red rosettes at the count at the Castle Leisure Centre.

Council leader Eamonn O'Brien said he was very pleased' with Labour's performance.