Labour hold Audenshaw by 82 votes

There were early rumours at the election count that Audenshaw could fall to the Conservatives as results looked to swing one way and then another.

In the end, a number of uncounted ballot papers for Labour took them across the line again - although it was a much closer result than usual.

Audenshaw councillor Teresa Smith retained her seat for Labour - but in the end there were just 82 votes in it.

She polled 1,507 votes with Conservative Danny Mather just behind on 1,425.

She said she was ‘delighted’ and stated that although it was close ‘a win is a win’.

A delighted Theresa spoke to us after her win pic.twitter.com/xa57wU6Gl3

— Tameside Reporter (@newsintameside) May 7, 2021

Speaking immediately after the result, she said she was ‘delighted the people of Audenshaw had put their trust in me.’

Cllr Smith said she would continue to work hard on behalf of residents and deal with their issues and problems.

Conservative candidate Danny Mather said he would be back again next year to try again and was left a little ‘numb’ by the result after a ‘roller coaster of a campaign.’

I’LL BE BACK: Danny Mather said it had been a ‘roller coaster’ of a campaign but the result was a huge improvement for the Conservatives.

It was also a roller coaster of a count with the result going both ways.

But he concluded: “It’s been a really positive campaign, I’ve really enjoyed speaking to the residents on the door and you will see me again next year.

“I’ve been standing for five years and I think back then we had around 16 per cent of the vote, so this is a massive improvement for us in Audenshaw.”

The Conservatives this time polled very nearly 44 per cent of the vote - a swing to the Tories this time from Labour of 7.1 per cent.

“People want change in Tameside,” he added.

Tim Brody for the Greens finished a distant third with 280 votes - an 8.6 per cent share.

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