"My dad will be spinning in his grave." These are the words of a lifelong Labour voter abandoning his political tribe.With the largest number of Labour councillors in the country, the ruling party at Manchester Town Hall will remain firmly in control of the council come May. But the local elections could leave Labour with more chinks in their armour.Francis has witnessed Manchester change massively since he moved to his wife's family home in Beswick 23 years ago.
The lowest turnout in Greater Manchester last May was in Fallowfield where just 15.22 pc of the electorate cast their ballot. Some students living in the transient suburb have said they don't see the point in voting in local elections. "I've lived here for 78 years and now I've got to prove who I am?" George says. "They're just going about it the wrong way."
Nevertheless, Labour were left with 91 of the 96 seats. Although a third of these seats are up for grabs this year, all eyes will be on three in particular. There were also swimming baths, a school and a nursing home nearby which have all gone now. Labour blames the loss of local amenities on austerity.
One homeowner living on the estate who votes Labour in general elections says she won't be supporting the party locally. Praising the work of local Lib Dem councillor Alan Good, she says she will vote for the opposition this time. A postman by profession, he arrives with newspapers in his hands which he has picked up for the neighbours. Previously, he never doubted voting Labour - and he still would at a general election - but he voted Lib Dem at the last locals.
It comes after a proposal to develop New Islington Green into another office scheme was approved during the pandemic, leading to the loss of much-loved green space. Manchester council - which opened the new Mayfield Park nearby in September - says it is investing in improvements to Ancoats Green. Brenda Campbell has lived on the same terraced street in Ancoats for 45 years. Aside from parking problems, the 83-year-old says she loves it here.
Labour councillor Majid Dar, who is standing for re-election this year, says he has been campaigning with other party members across the whole ward. He argues that Ancoats and Beswick is better off under council leader Bev Craig. Delivering at least 7,500 leaflets - one to each household in the council ward - every month, no one can deny the Greens are getting their message across. On a sunny Wednesday afternoon, their campaigners congregate outside Wythenshawe Forum for their second session of door-knocking that day.
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