Reform UK has secured its second council seat in Greater Manchester after winning a by-election.
Jordan Tarrant-Short said he was “ecstatic” to win the Balderstone and Kirkholt seat on Rochdale Council.
His 766 votes were enough to beat six other candidates including Labour’s Leanne Greenwood, who was 142 behind.
“This seat has been one of the safest for Labour in the past 50 years,” said Tarrant-Short. “So for me, winning this is a real bloody nose for them.”
He also told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “It is an amazing win and it really shows the political apathy in the area.
“I can’t wait to start working with the people of Balderstone and Kirkholt.”
He said residents were “fed up with the two main parties and they wanted a different choice”.
Tarrant-Short joins Allan Hopwood as Reform’s second elected representative in Greater Manchester.
Last month, Hopwood won the Longdendale ward on Tameside Council in a by-election.
The Rochdale seat became vacant after the resignation of Elsie Blundell, who was elected as MP for Heywood and Middleton last year.
Following the by-election, Balderstone and Kirkholt councillor and cabinet member Danny Meredith said: “Unfortunately, we didn’t win this evening. It was a close-run fight between ourselves and Reform.
“We will continue to work for the residents of Balderstone and Kirkholt. Congratulations to the new councillor.”
