Bolton councillor joins Conservatives months after quitting the Labour Party

A former Labour councillor has joined the Conservative group at Bolton town hall saying they are ‘determined to make a difference’.

Coun Shamim Abdullah, known as Rosie, who represents Rumworth ward, was elected to her seat by voters supporting Labour.

However, in February, she dramatically quit the opposition group, citing disagreements with Labour leadership over a proposed Haslam Park school development.

Since then Coun Abdullah has sat as an independent member.

Now, though, Bolton Conservatives have announced that she has completed a full political about turn and has joined their ranks.

What did Coun Abdullah and Bolton Conservatives say?

Coun Abdullah said: “Bolton Conservatives are a diverse group of dedicated people genuinely determined to make a difference and I am happy to join Martyn Cox and his team in trying to make our area a better place to live, work and study.”

A Conservative statement, said: “Welcome, Shamim ‘Rosie’ Abdullah on joining the Conservatives.

“Representing Rumworth, which currently faces a by-election, she will work with Conservative candidate, Ayyub (Chota) Patel, to help improve the area after years of being taken for granted.”

A by election coming up in Rumworth ward

A by election will take place for another of the three seats in Rumworth ward on Thursday, September 15 after another Labour councillor, Ebrahim Adia, stepped down due to career commitments.

Five candidates are looking to join Coun Abdullah and Labour’s Abdul Atcha in representing the ward.

The candidates are: Charles Cooper (Liberal Democrats), Alan Johnson (Green Party), Rose Makar (Reform UK & Bolton for Change), Ayyub ‘Chota’ Patel (Conservative) and Ismail Patel (Labour).

Martyn Cox, who leads the minority Conservative-led council, said he was hoping for success after his party made ground on Labour in May’s election.

He said: “We’re going to fight, and I think we have a really good chance. We got 36 per cent of the vote in May.

“Ayyub is a local lad. He’s lived in Rumworth all his life. He’s very well known, and he gave a very good fight in May.”

What has Labour said about the byelection?

Bolton Labour leader Nick Peel said the by election is a chance for Rumworth to ‘make a statement’.

He said: “Rumworth suffers from great deprivation, often made worse by years of austerity and the cost-of-living crisis made by the Tory party. It is really important that the people of Rumworth make a statement in this by election.

“Our candidate Ismail is very hard working and I expect he’ll show more of that commitment.”

The winner of the by election will face the ballot box again in just over seven months as there are all-out elections for each of Bolton’s 60 councillors in May 2023.