Reform UK swept two of Saddleworth's three seats on Oldham Council during last week's local elections, in a result that has left local politics in the borough facing an uncertain future.

In Saddleworth West and Lees, Reform candidate Peter Klonowski defeated sitting Liberal Democrat councillor Alicia Marland with 1,808 votes to her 1,636, a margin of 172 votes. Marland had represented the ward since 2022 and joined Saddleworth Parish Council a year later.

Reform also captured Saddleworth North from the Conservatives, with Ioan Williams winning comfortably by a majority of 463 votes. Williams polled 1,752 votes, while Conservative candidate Luke Lancaster received 1,289. The Liberal Democrat incumbent Garth Harkness finished third.

Saddleworth South remains in Liberal Democrat hands, but only just. Helen Bishop, chair of Saddleworth Parish Council, held on by a razor-thin margin of two votes after polling 1,594 against Reform's Christopher McManus on 1,592.

The results leave Saddleworth politically split and underline Reform UK's growing support in Oldham. Across the borough, the party gained 13 seats in what party figures described as a "people's revolt", transforming the group from one of the council's smallest factions into the second largest political force with 16 councillors.

The result dealt a severe blow to Labour, which lost eight seats overall despite remaining the council's largest party. Labour now holds 18 seats on Oldham Council, leaving the authority once again under no overall control.

In Saddleworth, it was a particularly bruising night for Labour, which finished fourth in Saddleworth North, third in Saddleworth South and third again in West and Lees — reflecting the party's wider struggles nationally and locally.

Oldham East and Saddleworth MP Debbie Abrahams described the outcome as "deeply disappointing", adding that she had told the Prime Minister there must be "demonstrable change in effective delivery of policies underpinned by our values by the end of the year".

Reform figures were quick to claim the results signalled deep frustration among voters. Oldham Reform group leader Lewis Quigg said the elections showed residents were "fed up with the establishment" and claimed communities across the borough had "long been forgotten".

The elections were among the most dramatic Oldham has seen in recent years. More than 46 per cent of residents turned out to vote, with some wards fielding up to seven candidates and several contests decided by thin margins.

The atmosphere around polling day and the overnight count was equally turbulent. Police were called to several incidents outside polling stations amid allegations of disorder and voter intimidation, while a councillor's car was vandalised near The Loom — Oldham's new count venue.

Labour council leader Councillor Arooj Shah admitted the result was "devastating", warning that the borough now faced a fragmented and uncertain political future. Negotiations between Oldham's political groups are expected in the coming weeks as parties attempt to form a workable administration at the Civic Centre.