Brooklands result hailed as a “sea change” for Labour as Conservatives lose control of the Council

Labour have emerged as the largest party in Trafford  for fifteen years as voters gave their verdict in a hard-fought local election campaign

The big winners were Labour and the Green Party and Brooklands became the key ward as the Conservatives lost control of the council.

Stephen Longden took the seat for Labour achieving a 184 majority over Mike Jefferson. Labour had targeted three seats in the borough – Davyhulme East and West and Flixton, which they won, but Brooklands was the stand-out result of the night, meanwhile in Altrincham, the Green Party won a further two seats to tip the balance of power.

The final tally is Labour has 30 seats to the Conservatives 29. It is the first time in fifteen years that the Council that no party is in overall control.

There were ecstatic scenes from Labour supporters at the Trafford count as the results came in.

Andrew Western, leader of the Trafford Labour party called the result a “sea change” and said;”We hoped to take the council into no overall control, but to have become the largest party is a fantastic bonus for us.”

Conservative leader Sean Anstee said the results were bitterly disappointing and vowed to reflect on the result.

Both leaders will make further statements later today.

The council had been Tory-controlled since 2004. Sir Graham Brady, Conservative MP for Altrincham and Sale West, said the result was “deeply disappointing”.