Oldham Council: Reform wins Saddleworth South by two votes

Reform UK won Saddleworth South on oldham council by two votes after the Liberal Democrats lost the ward in the final count on 07 May 2026. Peter Klonowski took the seat with 1,808 votes, while Alicia Marland finished on 1,636.

The result came after what was believed to be four recounts, leaving the ward separated by one of the smallest margins in the count. A misprint in Waterhead also produced 16 invalid votes, adding another layer to a night that was still waiting on one result when the updates were written.

Peter Klonowski in Saddleworth South

Klonowski’s win gave Reform UK a seat it took from the Liberal Democrats. Helen Louise Bishop also finished on 1,594 votes, Christopher John McManus on 1,592, and Paul Taylor on 1,459, underlining how tightly some Oldham wards were split as results came in.

The count brought in candidates from Labour, the Conservatives, Reform UK, the Greens, independent groups, and the Liberal Democrats. In Saddleworth South, those wider shifts were narrowed down to a two-vote result that decided the ward.

Waterhead and Oldham count

Waterhead’s misprinted ballot issue fed into the wider count on the night, with 16 invalid votes recorded as a result. Oldham Chronicle had published live updates from the Oldham Local Election count 2026, with results expected around 5:00 am.

That left candidates and voters looking at a count shaped by small margins, repeated checks, and a ballot error in another ward. For Saddleworth South, the practical outcome is simple: Reform UK now holds the seat, and the Liberal Democrats do not.