Double Darwen 'joy' for Labour as party makes two gains

The party celebrated victories in Darwen South and Darwen East with gains over the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats respectively.

It boosted the number of Labour councillors to 39 and left the Lib Dems with no councillors in the borough and the Tories with 12.

Anthony Shaw won the Darwen South ward and Matt Gibson won the Darwen East Ward, the latter was vacated by the retiring councillor Paul Browne.

Anthony said: "I am absolutely delighted. It is the first time I had ever stood. It is an area I grew up and can't wait to get started to help make a difference.

"Whilst out campaigning we heard a lot from residents who wanted to see a more visible presence from their local councillor."

Cllr Phil Riley who retained his seat in the Roe Lee ward was overjoyed with the results. He said: “On the basis of the results we already had but it becomes increasingly difficult to make more gains. We won two seats in Darwen that we really wanted to win.

“We are really excited. “We are also really pleased to have won again in Ewood."

He commended the victories of the three new councillors and added: "We have Salma, Anthony and Matt who all add value to our group and make us what we are - a very good representation of the diversity of the borough."

Salma Patel is congratulated by Kate Hollern

Salma Patel stood and won a council seat for the first time. She is the new councillor in the Shear Brow and Corporation Park ward.

She said: “On campaigning I found that the support for the Labour Party is fantastic.

“My fellow councillors do a really rally good job within the borough. So, I felt like there was a lot of support for Labour.

“I was born and brought up in Blackburn. I do a lot of voluntary work as it is, so I wanted to serve the community more. If I can help someone in the community and then it gives me a sense of satisfaction.”

Deputy leader Quesir Mahmood won his Wensley Fold seat comfortably.

He said: "From a results point of view for Blackburn with Darwen - the Labour Party results have been absolutely fantastic. We have gained two seats, one from the Liberal Democrats and one from the Conservatives.

"It shows a great deal of confidence in the Labour Party. Overall, we are absolutely delighted. Disappointed in the turn out but despite that there were some great results for Blackburn with Darwen."

Jim Casey won the Ewood ward whilst there were victories for Damian Talbot, Stephanie Brookfield and Vicky McGurk. Sitting councillor Salim Sidat won in the Audley and Queen’s Park ward polling more than 1,200 votes and Mahfooz Hussain was victorious in the Central ward.

Against the tide of Labour wins three Conservative candidates held out for wins – John Slater in Blackburn South and Lower Darwen, Paul Marrow in Livesey with Pleasington and Jean Rigby in West Pennine.

Shaukat Hussain polled 1,666 votes for Labour Bastwell and Daisyfield ward and won with a huge majority.

Cllr Hussain said: "I want to thank my family, friends, each and everyone who voted for me. I am truly humbled by the amount of support I received, it was a very wet, windy and cold day so getting the highest vote in town was an excellent achievement."

Cllr Jackie Floyd was re-elected in the Billinge and Beardwood ward. She said: “I don’t think anyone in politics should be complacent and this year has proved that again.

“I am very privileged to be the candidate to be elected in the Billinge and Beardwood ward that really represents the wide variety of people within Blackburn with Darwen itself.

“All parts of the community live in my ward. I am very proud of my constituency.”

The councillor said she had picked up more case work in the past year than any other.

"All those leaflets and walking up and down litter picking is worth it as the case load comes from being a visible woman in the community.

"I have probably had more calls than most from people who would not normally phone you up."