"Bellwether" Oldham sees Tories push on

The Conservatives more than doubled their showing in Oldham, the council described as a "bellwether" by Lord Rennard.

The Liberal Democrat chief executive had said the council would be an effective indicator of the Tories' ability to win a general election from Labour.

In the event it was the Lib Dems who became the largest biggest party, taking four additional seats to move to 30.

Labour slipped back to 22 from 30, with the Conservatives winning their remaining four seats.

They are now on seven, a strong improvement on the three they won in 2004.

The Conservatives held a majority in Oldham in the 1979 election when Margaret Thatcher became prime minister.