Dr. Kaushik Chakraborty has won back the Broadheath ward for the Conservative Party after Labour suffered a 19% slump in support since the general election.
The by-election, held on an impressive 49.6% turnout, saw Dr. Chakraborty secure 1,614 votes, comfortably winning against Labour candidate Mahvish Masood, who received 978 votes.
Lib Dem candidate Louise Bird came third on 841 votes, with Reform's Deborah Rhodes fourth with 723 votes.
The result was in marked contrast to the 2024 election, when Labour gained the ward from the Tories by a margin of just six votes.
Labour's winning candidate last year, Cllr Ulrich Savary defected to the Liberal Democrats in July, saying the party had "lost its way".
The full results were:
- Kaushik Chakraborty (Conservative): 1,614 votes
- Mahvish Masood (Labour): 978 votes
- Louise Claire Bird (Liberal Democrats): 841 votes
- Deborah Rhodes (Reform UK): 723 votes
- Stephen John Farndon (Independent): 22 votes
- Alexander Philip Young (Green Party): 204 votes
The by-election was triggered following the death of Cllr Denise Western, the mother of Stretford and Urmston MP Andrew Western, on August 22nd. She was one of the ward's three sitting councillors.
Vote share for the Liberal Democrats and Reform grew by 14.9% and 11.2% compared to the 2024 election.
Labour remains in overall control of Trafford Council.
Local MP Connor Rand said he was "obviously disappointed" by the result.
"By-elections are always hard for governments, and we know it’s been a difficult 15 months for this Government, which has had to make some really tough decisions," he said.
"This only strengthens my resolve to work with the Government so we can go further and faster to deliver change for people in Altrincham and Sale West that they can feel in their everyday lives.
"I think it’s clear that last night’s result was influenced by a very disingenuous campaign from the Liberal Democrats, who repeatedly suggested it was a fight between them and Reform, who finished third and fourth, in what has always been a Labour-Conservative marginal.
"I want to thank our fantastic candidate Mavish, our campaigners and everyone who voted Labour. I also want to congratulate Dr Kaushik Chakraborty on his victory."
