Akhtar Zaman Takes Bolton Score With Labour After May 7 Losses
Akhtar Zaman took the Bolton Labour leadership after the group’s losses on May 7, a shift that follows a night when Labour came up short across the borough. bolton score now sits with a new leader and deputy as the party tries to reset after the local elections.
Zaman and Donaghy take charge
Bolton Labour Group elected Councillor Akhtar Zaman as Leader of the Labour Group and Councillor Martin Donaghy as Deputy Leader after Thursday’s local elections. The move followed Labour’s losses, including the defeat of former leader Councillor Nick Peel in Tonge with the Haulgh to Reform UK’s Bolton chair Trevor Jones.
The group set out its response in direct terms: “We would like to thank Councillor Nick Peel for his leadership, dedication and service to Bolton Labour and to communities across the borough.” It also said, “We also pay tribute to all Labour councillors who were not re-elected.”
May 7 results across Bolton
Twenty of the council’s 60 seats were contested across the borough. Reform UK won nine seats on the night, the most of any party, while the Green Party won three, the Conservatives won three, Labour won two, Horwich and Blackrod First Independents won two, and the Liberal Democrats won one.
That result leaves Labour as the largest party on the council with 20 seats, but 11 seats short of the 31 needed for an overall majority. The Conservatives hold 11 seats, Reform UK has 10, the Liberal Democrats have five, there are four Green councillors, four Horwich and Blackrod First Independents councillors, three Farnworth and Kearsley First councillors and three independents.
“Following yesterday’s results, the Labour Group understands the need to listen, reflect and rebuild trust with residents across Bolton,” the group said. It added: “Akhtar and Martin will lead a Labour team focused on standing up for local people, supporting our communities, and working every day to deliver a fairer, safer and better Bolton.”
