The central Bolton ward of Rumworth has elected an Independent councillor, with Yusuf Davda winning the by-election and taking a seat previously held by Labour.
What happened in the by-election
Davda topped the poll with 1,458 votes, ahead of Labour’s Sajid Pathan on 1,054. The Green Party’s Alan Johnson finished third with 579. The contest was called after Labour councillor Abdul Atcha announced he was stepping down after four years in office.
"Road safety and speeding is a massive issue in Rumworth and I’ll be working to address that. The people in the ward are also concerned about crime and anti-social behaviour. I will work with other councillors to address these issues."
Davda said he was “delighted” with the victory and thanked those who campaigned for him. He identified traffic dangers, speeding and anti-social behaviour as priorities for his term.
Local political impact
The result reduces Labour’s presence on Bolton Council, where the party remains the largest group but now holds fewer seats. As of this result, the council composition stands as follows (according to the reporting):
| Party | Seats |
|---|---|
| Labour | 19 |
| Conservative | 10 |
| Reform UK | 10 |
| Liberal Democrats | 5 |
| Horwich & Blackrod First | 5 |
| Greens | 4 |
| Farnworth & Kearsley First | 3 |
| Independents | 4 |
The change is notable because Rumworth has in recent years been seen as a ward where Labour enjoyed strong support. In the May elections this year the Greens carried the ward with a substantially larger vote tally, showing volatility in local voting patterns.
What this means for residents
Davda has pledged to focus on practical, local issues. His priorities — as stated during the campaign — include:
- Road safety measures to tackle speeding
- Work to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour
- Collaboration with other councillors on ward problems
Residents can expect the new councillor to raise these matters at council meetings and through local channels. For people wanting to follow or engage with the council’s work, details of ward surgeries, contact methods and meeting dates are published on Bolton Council’s website.
Full declared results for the by-election were: Yusuf Davda (Independent) – 1,458; Wendy Ann Hopkinson (Independent) – 45; Alan Johnson (Green) – 517; Marcellus Mbah (Conservative) – 60; Ghansham Hirgi Patel (Reform UK) – 279; Sajid Pathan (Labour) – 1,054; Gillian Elizabeth Wroe (Liberal Democrat) – 37.
The by-election outcome will be watched by local parties as they consider strategy ahead of future council votes and local elections, with campaigners likely to focus on the everyday issues that influenced voters in Rumworth.
