Ayyub (Chota) Patel has overturned a huge Labour majority to win the Rumworth by-election, something that has never happened before.
The by-election, triggered by the resignation by a Labour councillor, was seen by the Labour Party as an easy ride. However, voters refused to be taken for granted any further and were inspired by Conservatives delivering over £600k in road and pavement improvements in Rumworth, as well as wider policies on town centre regeneration.
This follows the welcoming of Cllr Shamim Abdullah to the Conservative Group, who as an independent and former Labour councillor, joined the Conservatives to work with us to make Rumworth even better for residents.
In a huge achievement, Ayyub secured over 50% of the vote, an outright majority.
The result was as follows:
Conservative: 1,610 - 55.0% (+44.1)
Labour: 1,102 - 37.6% (-35.2)
Green: 156 - 5.3% (-2.6)
Lib Dem: 36 - 1.2% (-0.8)
Bolton for Change: 24 - 0.8% (+0.8)
Cllr Ayyub Patel, newly elected for Rumworth, said:
Becoming a local councillor will help by enabling me to raise the key issues identified by residents of Rumworth at the highest local level within Bolton Council and other key agencies.
This includes increasing investment and resources into the area and looking at long-term plans to meet the changing requirements of the current and future residents of Rumworth ward.
There are no real community services for the elderly, young people, and women who reside in Rumworth.
I am interested in protecting our parks, green space, and recreation areas in Rumworth, as intervention has already stopped the garden sale in Nixon Triangle.
I am delighted with the win, I have shown that the residents of Rumworth have a voice and they have used it to send a strong message to overturn the safest labour seat in Bolton to Conservatives.
I wish to thank all of the Rumworth residents who put their trust and support in me.
My thanks go to my agent Yusuf Davda, my incredible volunteers who made up my campaign team, and my family and friends.
Most importantly this win is for my father, who had always encouraged me and wanted me to become a local councillor.
Leader of Bolton Council, Cllr Martyn Cox, added:
This is quite simply a stunning result for Bolton Conservatives. Full credit goes to Ayyub Patel and his team who have worked incredibly hard to win one of the safest Labour seats in the town.
Rumworth now has two Conservative councillors who are committed to improving their area.
