Andrew Western

Andrew Western (born 18 March 1985) is a British Labour Party politician who has, since 2018, served as the Leader of Trafford Council.

Andrew Western
Member of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority
Incumbent
Assumed office 23 May 2018
Mayor	Andy Burnham
Leader of Trafford Council
Incumbent
Assumed office 23 May 2018
Preceded by	Sean Anstee
Trafford Metropolitan Borough Councillor for Priory
Incumbent
Assumed office 5 May 2011
Preceded by	Roland Griffin
Personal details
Born	Andrew Howard Western (1985-03-18) 18 March 1985 Wythenshawe, Manchester
Nationality	British
Political party	Labour
Alma mater	University of Sheffield
Occupation	Labour councillor

Early life

Western was born at Wythenshawe Hospital to Denise Western (née Firth) and Howard Western and grew up in Timperley. He attended Altrincham Grammar School for Boys prior to studying History and Politics at Sheffield University, graduating in 2006. He returned to Altrincham after university and prior to becoming Council Leader worked in project management within the engineering sector, focusing particularly on transport infrastructure.

Politics

Local government

Western joined the Labour Party at the age of seventeen, though resigned his membership following the Iraq war. He rejoined the Party in 2006, holding various roles at a branch and constituency level over the following 10 years.

He was first elected to Trafford Council at the 2011 local elections, representing Priory ward which largely consists of Sale town centre.

Western subsequently defended his seat securing re-election in both the 2015 and 2019 local government elections.

Western became Deputy Leader of the Labour Group on Trafford Council in May 2014 before becoming Labour Group Leader, and Leader of the Opposition, in November 2014.

At the 2018 local government elections the Labour Party gained four seats from the Conservative Party, with the Tories suffering further losses to the Liberal Democrats and the Greens.

The Labour Party became the largest political group on Trafford Council, with the previously Tory-controlled authority being placed in a state of no overall control; Labour formed a minority-control administration governing the Council with the support of the Liberal Democrats in a confidence and supply arrangement. Western was confirmed as Council Leader shortly after the elections.[1]

At the 2019 local government elections the Labour Party made further gains, securing an additional six seats from the Conservative Party. The Labour Group obtained a majority of council seats, and formed an outright administration governing the Council. This was the first time since the 2004 boundary changes that Labour had managed to win a majority of seats.[2]

Western sits on the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and is presently the Portfolio Lead for Green City Region. Between May 2018 and May 2019 he served as Portfolio Lead for Digital City Region. He also sits on the North West Regional Leaders Board.[3]

In March 2019 Western publicly opposed the plans by Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham to make cuts to Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service.[4]

He is an active member of the Local Government Association and sits on their Improvement and Innovation Board.

Since 2019 Western has served as a non-executive director at Trafford Housing Trust. He serves as a school governor at Wellfield Infant and Nursery School in Sale, and is a board member of Youth Mental Health Matters a charity established in Trafford to raise awareness of and lobby for further investment in youth mental health services.[5]

Parliament

Western has twice sought election to Parliament, being the Labour Party candidate in Altrincham and Sale West in the 2017 United Kingdom general election and 2019 general elections. On both occasions he reduced the Tory majority but was ultimately defeated by incumbent MP Graham Brady.[6]

Political Views

Western supported Yvette Cooper in the 2015 Labour leadership election.[7]

Western endorsed Tony Lloyd in the 2016 Greater Manchester Labour Party mayoral selection.[8]

He is a member of GMB union and Unite the union, as well as the Cooperative Party and the Fabian Society.

Elections

UK general elections

Date of election	Constituency	Party		Votes	% of votes	Result
2019 general election	Altrincham and Sale West		Labour	20,172	36.8	Not Elected[9]
2017 general election	Altrincham and Sale West		Labour	20,507	38.8	Not Elected[10]

UK local elections

Date of election	Ward	Party		Votes	% of votes	Result
2019 local elections	Priory, Trafford		Labour	1,511	48.8	Elected[11]
2015 local elections	Priory, Trafford		Labour	2,407	42.9	Elected[12]
2011 local elections	Priory, Trafford		Labour	1,510	43.3	Elected
2010 local elections	Broadheath, Trafford		Labour	1,799	29.3	Not Elected
2008 local elections	Broadheath, Trafford		Labour	836	26.9	Not Elected
2007 local elections	Hale Barns, Trafford		Labour	284	9.1	Not Elected

References

1. "Trafford's green bin tax could be scrapped – after the council's Labour and Liberal Democrat groups strike a deal". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 14 January 2020.
2. "Western: Trafford not a Nimby council". Place North West. Retrieved 14 January 2020.
3. Authority, Greater Manchester Combined. "Councillor Andrew Western". Greater Manchester Combined Authority. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
4. "Mayor's fire service cuts will 'risk public safety', warns council leader". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 14 January 2020.
5. "Trafford Housing Trust". traffordhousingtrust.co.uk. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
6. "Trafford's green bin tax could be scrapped – after the council's Labour and Liberal Democrat groups strike a deal". BBC News. Retrieved 14 January 2020.
7. "Corbyn leads on councillor endorsements". Conservative Home. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
8. "Tony Lloyd has five council chiefs backing him for Greater Manchester Mayor". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
9. "UK Parliamentary General Election – 2019". Retrieved 14 January 2020.
10. "UK Parliamentary General Election – 2017". Retrieved 14 January 2020.
11. "Local Election May 2019 results". Retrieved 14 January 2020.
12. "Parliamentary and Local Election 2015". Retrieved 14 January 2020.

Political offices
Preceded by Sean Anstee	Leader of Trafford Council 2018–present	Incumbent