Blackburn with Darwen: Gaza Independents surge rocks Labour

The 4 BwD group are now set to be the borough's official opposition after the Conservatives lost two seats in one of the most eventful elections in the borough for some time.

Labour now have 29 councillors (down from 31), the Conservatives now have nine having lost two in Ewood and Blackburn South and Lower Darwen wards.

There are now 13 Independent councillors - 12 allied to 4 BwD and former Tory Tiger Patel.

This Tiger will continue to prowl the council chamber (Image: Nq)

Labour lost some big figures most notably Mayor designate Sylvia Liddle in the Roe Lee ward, which is also represented by Blackburn with Darwen Council leader Cllr Phil Riley.

He said that with a majority of seven - despite the party's poor showing in wards with large numbers of residents of South Asian heritage - it would be business as usual for his group and the council.

RECAP: All the results from Local Elections 2024 across East Lancashire

Cllr Mustafa Desai, who leads the 4 BwD group, said the result was a 'great victory' and promised its councillors would continue to work hard locally.

Also defeated by Independents were long-serving Labour councillors Iftakhar Hussain in Bastwell and Daisyfield, Naushad Surve in Little Harwood and Whitebirk, and Dave Harling in Wensley Fold, which will alarm his ward colleague and joint deputy leader of the council Cllr Quesir Mahmood.

In Shear Brow and Corporation Park, Labour's Hussain Akhtar had conceded defeat before counting even began, and he was right to as Muntazir Patel stormed to victory for 4 BwD with 1,200 more votes than the incumbent.

Former Labour Mayor and executive board member Faryad Hussain also failed in his bid to return to the council chamber in Audley and Queen's Park losing by 404 votes.

Sighs of relief for Julie Gunn who was comfortably re-elected (Image: Nq)

But Labour did take two wards of the Conservatives Ewood and Blackburn South and Lower Darwen which is also represented by their group lead Cllr John Slater.

Labour's other joint leader Cllr Julie Gunn comfortably held her Mill Hill and Moorgate ward.

Former Liberal Democrat Paul Browne - attempting to make his second comeback from retirement as an Independent - failed in his bid to win Darwen East ward as Labour's Cllr Katrina Fielding held on by 442 votes.

The scale of Labour's problems with the 4 BwD challenge was clear from the start of the count at Blackburn's King George's Hall as party strategists warned of big losses and this was backed up when the first result saw Waqar Hussain take Billinge and Beardwood ward for the Independents.

He said: "I am delighted, tired and thankful."

And all the first seven results saw Independent Labour rebel victories.

Then Tiger Patel won Little Harwood and Whitebirk, after his switch from Audley and Queens Park.

He said: "This victory is not my victory.

"It is a victory for the innocent people of Palestine. I am very pleased."

Cllr Phil Riley said; "Clearly this has not been a good result for Labour.

"But we have lost councillors in circumstances that are about international issues which have nothing to do with Blackburn with Darwen Council.

"The tragedy is that Sylvia Liddle, who has put in a lifetime of public service, is now denied that chance to be the Mayor of the borough [because of] circumstances she has no control over.

"Cllr Liddle's former colleagues who are now part of the Independent group should be ashamed of themselves for creating this injustice.

"We can continue to run the council. We have got a majority of seven. Nothing changes.

"We did take the two Conservative wards we wanted to in the South of the borough - Ewood and Blackburn South and Lower Darwen.

"We have no plans to take steps to bring the Independents back."

Cllr Desai said: "This is a great victory which we have worked very hard for.

"People are totally dissatisfied with what has been going on

"I think the results were a surprise to Labour who I don't think realised the scale of movement.

"It is about local issues as well as national ones.

"It sends a message to the Labour leadership about people's concerns about humanitarian issues in Gaza and everywhere.

"This is not just a Muslim issue.

"We will continue to work hard locally."

It was not a good day for the Tories (Image: Nq)

Blackburn with Darwen Conservative group leader Cllr John Slater said: "It was not a good day for us but it was worse for Labour.

"Unfortunately we lost two seats which was disappointing.

"It was sad to see my excellent colleague Denise Gee lose her seat and unfortunately we didn't retain Ewood although the councillor had retired.

"It will be interesting to see in the coming months and years whether the South Asian heritage community has had enough of Labour and if so the writing is on the wall for them, or whether it is like with the Iraq war where in the end they returned to the fold."

Mrs Liddle said: "I am naturally very disappointed as anyone would be. Especially for my family, We were all looking forward to my Mayoral year.

"But my greatest concern is the split which has appeared in the Muslim community in Blackburn."