Andrew Western is the new MP for Stretford and Urmston after a by-election landslide.

The leader of Trafford Council takes over from Kate Green, who was confirmed as the Deputy Mayor of Greater Manchester last week.

Cllr Western was expected to see off the challenge of eight other candidates and add to the 60 per cent share of the vote received by the Labour Party at the last election.

He met these expectations when the results were announced at Old Trafford in the early hours of Friday, as he received 12828 ballots, or a 69.6 per cent share of the vote.

The turnout was 25.8 per cent, the eighth lowest in a by-election in the post-war period.

Cllr Western said: “I am overjoyed to be elected as the Member of Parliament for my home town. This by-election must hold the record for the coldest polling day on record, and I am thankful to every single person who braved the cold.

“Despite the cold, I have been heartened by how warm our reception was on the doorstep.

“It is clear from the result, and from the conversations I have had with voters throughout the campaign, that the public want a general election.

“The Conservative Party are failing to lead the country. They have unleashed a wrecking ball through the foundations of our economy and undermined the public’s trust in democracy.

“Only Labour can deliver the change our country needs.”

Elected as a representative for Priory Ward more than 10 years ago, Cllr Western became the leader of the Labour Group on Trafford Council in 2014.

Then, it was in opposition to the Conservative Group, compared to which it held six fewer seats.

By 2018, the Labour Group was the largest on the council and a year on it took overall control.

And, after the last election six months ago, it held 28 more seats than the Conservative Group.

The by-election is set to lead to a change of leadership at the town hall, although there is nothing to stop Cllr Western remaining as a councillor at least until the end of his term.

Here are the results:

Conservative Party - Emily Carter-Kandola - 2922

Freedom Alliance - Christina Glancy - 76

Green Party - Dan Jerrome - 789

Independent - Hazel Gibb - 183

Labour Party - Andrew Western - 12828

Liberal Democrats - Anna Fryer - 659

Reform UK - Paul Swansborough - 650

Rejoin EU - Jim Newell - 237

Social Democrats - Julien Yvon - 74 

This article was written by Jack Tooth. Jack is the reporter for The Messenger and covers anything and everything from within the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford.

To contact him, email jack.tooth@newsquest.co.uk or follow @JTRTooth on Twitter.