Labour gained two seats on Stockport Council and 28% of the popular vote at the local elections on 7th May, on a night which saw the third-placed Liberal Democrats suffer losses across the borough.
Stockport Labour Group now has 21 Councillors compared with a Liberal Democrat Group of 26 and a Conservative Group of 13.
Labour Group Leader Councillor Alex Ganotis said, “These results are another sign that local people in Stockport trust Labour to deliver our ambitious vision for change.
“Last week more than 41,000 residents voted for a Labour plan which offers a thriving local economy, affordable homes, better joined-up healthcare, outstanding schools, cleaner streets and safer neighbourhoods.’
“Local people see the hard work and fresh thinking which Labour Councillors are bringing across Stockport, which is so desperately needed in our communities, and are asking for more of it.”
Stockport Labour MPs Ann Coffey and Andrew Gwynne were re-elected in the Stockport and Denton and Reddish constituencies respectively, both with majorities of more than 10,000 over their nearest challengers.
Labour Councillor Richard Coaton was re-elected with the largest majority recorded anywhere in Stockport, winning by a margin of 2,521 votes in the Edgeley & Cheadle Heath ward. By contrast, the biggest winning margin for a Liberal Democrat was only 870 votes in the Cheadle Hulme North ward.
Liberal Democrats have led the Council for the last 18 years, since 1997 but now have their smallest Group for a generation and attracted the support of less than 1 in 4 Stockport residents at the local elections.