Frequently Asked Questions — St Mary's Ward

Who won the St Mary's ward election in 2021?

Independent held St Mary's ward at the 6 May 2021 Local Election. Independent won with a majority of 303 votes (6.6%). Turnout was 48.5%.

Which council does St Mary's ward elect to?

St Mary's is a ward within Oldham. Councillors elected here sit on Oldham Council, responsible for local services including planning, housing, social care, and waste collection. At this election 48.5% of eligible voters cast a ballot — local elections typically attract 25–40% turnout nationally.

What does swing mean in UK elections?

Swing measures how much support has shifted between two parties compared to a previous election. The Butler swing formula — used in British election reporting since the 1950s — takes the average of the gain in the winner's vote share and the loss in the runner-up's. A 5% swing is considered large at ward level; anything above 10% is exceptional. The swing figure for St Mary's in 2021 is shown in the statistics above.