Jordan Tarrant-Short Secures Balderstone and Kirkholt Seat, Becoming Reform UK’s Second Greater Manchester Councillor

Rochdale, May 2025 – Jordan Tarrant-Short has been elected as Reform UK’s second councillor in Greater Manchester after winning the closely contested Balderstone and Kirkholt seat. Tarrant-Short secured 766 votes out of a total 2,362 votes cast and 2,354 votes accepted, narrowly edging out Labour’s Leanne Greenwood by 142 votes in a race that featured a total of seven candidates.

The newly elected councillor expressed optimism about the future of Reform UK in the region, highlighting that both he and Allan Hopwood—who won the Longdendale council by-election in Tameside last month—could be the forerunners of a growing Reform presence in the Metropolitan County.

While Reform UK’s expansion has seen more significant traction in other parts of England, including Lancashire, the result in Balderstone and Kirkholt reflects the unique political landscape of the area. The ward is known for its politically charged atmosphere and diverse population, with many residents having migrated from various locations, adding complexity to local voting patterns.

Tensions ran high during the vote count at Kirkholt Community Church, with some attendees raising accusations of unscrupulous counting and demanding a full recount. However, the clear margin between Reform and Labour candidates largely quelled these calls.

The election outcome also underlines the possible start of a decline in Labour’s popularity in the area, a trend that has become increasingly evident since last year.

As Jordan Tarrant-Short takes his seat on the council, all eyes will be on how Reform UK capitalises on this momentum and whether it can translate this local win into broader influence across Greater Manchester.