Labour have insisted that they did not abstain from voting in order to allow the Conservatives to take control of South Ayrshire Council.
03.05.2022 - 19:51 / manchestereveningnews.co.uk
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey has said he aims to make the party a "major force" in Greater Manchester, as he identified Stockport as a "key" target in this week's local elections.
Sir Ed told the MEN that despite Labour "throwing the kitchen sink" at the party's city leader John Leech, he still expected a good turn of results when voters head to the polls on Thursday.
Sir Ed, who served as energy secretary in the coalition government, said he would be keeping a particularly close eye on results south of the city.
Read more: Bitter battle for Greater Manchester's most tightly contested council flares up again
"A key area for us is Stockport, we've got two parliamentary constituencies there which are marginal between us and the Tories, which we want to take next time", he said.
"And of course, we're the just about the largest party but Labour and Conservatives have done some sort of Faustian pact to stop us."
In no overall control since 2011, Stockport has been run by Labour for the last six years despite the Lib Dems emerging as the largest group at last year’s local elections.
A shock victory for the Greens in Reddish South left Labour with one fewer councillor than the Lib Dems, appearing to signal that the administration could again change hands.
But - at a crunch meeting the following week - opposition groups refused to oust council leader Elise Wilson before the end of her term, meaning Labour remained at the helm.
Sir Ed said: "That's not gone down too well in some of the Tory wards, because not only don't they like what Boris Johnson's been up to, they don't like the fact that Tories in Stockport are supporting Labour."
Asked how far off the party was from challenging Labour more broadly across Greater
Labour have insisted that they did not abstain from voting in order to allow the Conservatives to take control of South Ayrshire Council.
A day before the elections all three major national parties have promised the LGBTQI community equality and freedom from discrimination – but not to the same degree. National LGBTQI advocacy organisation Equality Australia on Friday released its scorecard for Labor, Liberal and Greens, ahead of the federal elections on Saturday May 21. “Every person in Australia deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, and to work, study and access services without fear of discrimination,” said Anna Brown, CEO of Equality Australia. Image: Equality AustraliaOne of the major issues this year for the community was Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s Religious Discrimination Bill. The Bill was indefinitely shelved after Labor, Independents and five Liberal MPs voted for amendments to protect gay and trans students. Morrison has promised to bring back the unamended Religious Discrimination Bill if his government is re-elected.
Billi Mucklow couldn't have looked more thrilled as she kicked off her fun-filled hen party while travelling to Dubai. After eight long years of being engaged, the former The Only Way Is Essex star will officially be tying the knot to her footballer fiancé Andy Carroll next month.
Kay Mellor has died at the age of 71. The Leeds-born scriptwriter passed away on Sunday her production company announced: “It is with profound sadness that we announce the untimely and sudden passing of our beloved friend, mentor and colleague Kay Mellor on Sunday 15th May 2022.
The Real Housewives of Dubai are coming!
is finally here, and looks to be the most luxe entry into Bravo's universe yet. The network just dropped the trailer for the 11th city in the franchise, which features everything fans want from the women: foul-mouthed feuding, glitz and glam… and crossover?! Yep, look closely and you'll spot alum Phaedra Parks pop in for a cameo.«Anything is possible in Dubai,» star Caroline Stanbury says in the sneak peek's opening minute.
The TV world has paid tribute to Kay Mellor, after the sad news of the screenwriter's death died at age 71. Kay was best known for her Bafta-nominated TV programme, Fat Friends, which stole the hearts of the nation in the early noughties.The drama was set in Kay's hometown, Leeds, and focused on the members of a slimming group. And as well as being a fantastic show in its own right, Fat Friends helped bring another British classic to our screens – Gavin and Stacey.
Michelle Hardwick has lead tributes to famous screenwriter Kay Mellor after her death at the age of 71. Announcing the heartbreaking news of her death, a spokesperson for her TV production company, Rollem Productions, said in a statement: “It is with profound sadness that we announce the untimely and sudden passing of our beloved friend, mentor and colleague Kay Mellor on Sunday 15th May 2022. “We have lost a phenomenal talent and a true luminary.
TUI has cancelled holidays to Sri Lanka amid a ‘deteriorating’ political and financial situation over in the country.
Flags, flares and joy filled the air as the promotion party continued for Stockport County fans this evening. Almost 24 hours after clinching the league title at Edgeley Park, the Hatters were back in town as supporters lined the streets to cheer their heroes.
TUI has cancelled all holidays to Sri Lanka departing up to and including 31 May 2022. This comes as the Foreign Office updated its travel advice for Sri Lanka, urging Brits not to go to the country unless it’s absolutely necessary.
They'd waited a long time for this moment in Stockport and they weren't going to wait a second longer than necessary. With five minutes of their 2021/22 season to go hundreds of supporters ringed the edge of the Edgeley Park pitch. It was time to get the party started.
A Stockport couple whose snake went missing in neighbouring Manchester were left gobsmacked after he was found SIX MONTHS later - completely unharmed. Jasmine and Jo, who lived in Fallowfield until December 2021, originally adopted Mikey the corn snake, 16, from Jo’s parents just over a year ago.
Save the date! On Saturday, May 21, 2022, a host of superheroes are heading to town.
Love Island star Anton Danyluk confirms he will return to Scotland later this year to join the judging panel at the Scottish Health & Fitness Awards.
Councillor Amanda Chadderton is set to become the new leader of Oldham council. Previously deputy to Arooj Shah, she was elected as the new Labour group leader at an AGM on Monday night.