Stephen Anstee: Championing Conservatism in Rochdale

Cllr Stephen Anstee is the Leader of the Conservative Group on Rochdale Council.

Being the leader of a small Conservative administration in a council as overwhelmingly Labour-dominated as Rochdale is no easy task. Labour holds a commanding majority locally, dominates the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), and all the borough’s MPs come from the Labour benches. In such a setting, it would be easy — perhaps even expected — to position ourselves purely in opposition. But I have always believed there is a better path.

Our focus is not on performance politics. It is on people. Instead of chasing headlines or clashing in the chamber for effect, we spend our time on casework, practical support, and working quietly behind the scenes to deliver for residents. That is how we build trust — not through slogans, but through service.

Too often, Rochdale is unfairly written off in the public imagination. There is no denying that the borough faces serious challenges — from deprivation to economic underperformance, to persistent issues with housing, health inequalities and anti-social behaviour. But it is also a place with immense potential.

Rochdale is rich in history, culture, community spirit, and resilience. It is a borough of proud towns and villages, from the Pennine foothills of Norden and Wardle to the industrial legacy of Heywood and Middleton. It is also the birthplace of the co-operative movement — a legacy that speaks volumes about the deep-rooted sense of mutual responsibility and social entrepreneurship that lives on in our communities today.

That co-operative spirit is not a left – or right-wing idea. It is a Rochdale idea — and one that aligns naturally with the values of local conservatism: self-reliance, neighbourliness, and taking pride in the places we call home.

Operating within a political landscape so heavily dominated by Labour brings constant challenges. We are often outnumbered in council meetings – and scrutinising major decisions from the GMCA is an uphill climb when most of the influence is held by Labour leaders from across Greater Manchester.

But we have not let that stop us. Instead of sulking on the sidelines, we have found ways to make the system work for the people we serve — through cooperation, persistence, and a relentless focus on delivery. Our relationships with officers are professional and respectful. We work across party lines where it helps our communities. We pick our battles carefully, not because we fear opposition, but because we want our energy spent where it matters most.

We do not need to win every vote in the chamber to win people’s confidence. We win it on the doorstep, in community halls, at residents’ meetings — by turning up, following through, and being consistent.

While the national party navigates turbulence and renewal, our work in Rochdale points towards a better way forward: a conservatism grounded in localism, competence, and care.
We are not here to shout about national policies or perform for social media. We are here to solve problems and represent real people.

This version of conservatism — quiet, practical, and community-minded — has served us well. And while it has not yet translated into electoral gains, it has enabled us to hold our ground in recent elections, even as hardworking Conservative councillors across the country have lost their seats. That stability, in a borough not considered traditionally fertile ground for the party, says something important.

But we are not complacent. We have not cracked it — yet. My hope is that by 2026, we will start to see real signs of growth, with 2027 offering the clearest opportunity to turn our approach into tangible electoral progress. It will not happen by accident, and it certainly will not happen through gimmicks. It will happen if we stay true to the values that matter most to people: integrity, service, and community.

In a highly polarised political climate, there is real appetite for a different way of doing politics. People are tired of the endless point-scoring and tribalism. They want councillors who will get things done, not just shout about them. That is the space we are trying to occupy — and, I believe, the space where the Conservative Party can genuinely rebuild.

We are not naive. We know how entrenched Labour is in Rochdale and across Greater Manchester. But that makes our role even more important. We provide scrutiny, alternatives, and a much-needed second voice in debates that often suffer from groupthink. And when things go wrong — as they too often do at the town hall or the GMCA — we are here to challenge and hold power to account, while still offering solutions.

It is an immense privilege to lead our Conservative group in Rochdale. We may be small, but we are determined. We believe that residents deserve better than they often get — and we are prepared to work every day to help deliver it.

We will not win every argument, but we will win respect. And from that respect comes trust — the most valuable political currency there is. If we continue to work hard, act with integrity, and put people before party politics, I believe we can help lay the groundwork for a conservative revival in Rochdale that is built to last.

In Rochdale, being Conservative is not about clinging to old assumptions. It is about forging a new path, grounded in the borough’s strengths, rooted in local service, and focused on a better future. That is a challenge I welcome — and one we will continue to rise to.