Labour council leader loses seat in dramatic local election
Date published: 07 May 2021
Sean Fielding lost his council seat in a dramatic and depressing night for Labour
Labour’s stronghold in Oldham has been dealt a shattering blow after the incumbent council leader was defeated by a new independent party.
Sean Fielding, who became leader in May 2018 at the age of just 28 after ousting incumbent Jean Stretton from the top job, lost his seat in a dramatic and depressing night for Labour.
His seat was won by Mark Wilkinson, of the newly formed Failsworth Independent Party.
The mood at the count was gloomy well before results were officially announced, and Labour was subsequently confirmed to have lost a further five seats – including one which was vacant but had previously been held by the party.