Residents in Oldham have blamed the demise of their town and the cost of living crisis as much as the Gaza protest vote for Labour losing control of their council.

The party lost overall control of the council after independents picked up seats in an apparent backlash over the Gaza war with Sir Keir Starmer admitting the conflict was a 'very strong factor' in losing. 

Speaking today Sir Keir was asked whether his stance on Gaza had played a part in the results in Oldham. He told the BBC: 'There are some places where it's a very strong factor... I respect that'.

The party's national campaign coordinator Pat McFadden has admitted the crisis in the Middle East has been an 'issue' on the doorstep because with 'so many innocent people being killed I'm not surprised people have strong feelings about that'.

One Labour councillor in the town who lost their Oldham seat told the BBC: 'The main reason for this is Gaza and anger that the Labour Party took too long to call for a ceasefire' .

The count at Oldham Council in the early hours where Labour lost control with those who lost seats blaming their party's stance on Gaza not chiming with Muslim voters

Deputy Labour Leader Angela Rayner meets new Labour MP for Blackpool South, Chris Webb at Blackpool Cricket Club today

Labour is still the largest party on Oldham Council with 27 seats - but have lost control because there are now 16 independents as well as nine Lib Dems and eight Tory councillors.

Councillors Nyla Ibrahim and Akhtar Shoab left Labour to sit as independents, reportedly citing Labour's response to Gaza, with councillor Ibrahim re-elected on Thursday. 

READ MORE: Labour embroiled in Islamophobia row after party source tells the BBC 'once again Hamas are the real villains' for costing party Muslim votes in West Midlands and Oldham

Retiring Labour councillor Paul Fryer said last night: 'Labour have been in power in Oldham for 13 years, perhaps people are a bit tired of Labour. In some parts of the borough it's the Gaza issue that may lose them the seat'.

Pat McFadden has admitted the crisis in Gaza has been an 'issue' and 'does get raised' when asked about Labour's loss of control in Oldham.

The party's national campaign coordinator told BBC Breakfast: 'I do think that's been a factor in some places, I don't think there's any point in denying that. It does get raised, and I understand why people have strong feelings about that.'

He said that with 'so many innocent people being killed I'm not surprised people have strong feelings about that'.

But Mr McFadden added: 'In addition to the Middle East issue which you mentioned there are specific very local factors in Oldham which have knocked it out of line with the Labour gains we've been seeing in local elections.'

Shops have closed and the town centre has been plagued by anti-social behaviour.

Taxi driver Ali Sheb, 37, voted independent as he is angry of the state of Oldham

Church leader Ezekiel Shibemba, 60, says he doesn't believe Gaza played a part

Retired security guard Brian Ingham, 64, said the town was in a mess 

Taxi driver Ali Sheb, 37, voted independent as he is angry of the state of the town centre rather than his views on Gaza.

The Muslim voter told MailOnline: 'People I know have voted against Labour because of Gaza but not me.

'I am more worried about the state of the town centre.

'People aren't just coming into the town centre anymore because it's because so run down.'

Student Aisha Tahir, 20, said: 'Most people in my area didn't vote Labour as they have not stood up to Israel.

'Children are dying in Gaza and we need a ceasefire.

'Labour have been too slow and people are angry with them.'

Retired security guard Brian Ingham, 64, said: 'I voted Labour and I'm shocked that they have lost control.

'I think it's down to the state of town centre.

'It's being killed off.'

Church leader Ezekiel Shibemba, 60, said: 'I'm not sure it's just Gaza.

'Maybe others ran a better campaign than Labour of they just wanted a change.'

Meanwhile Labour's Chris Webb secured a massive 26 per cent swing in Blackpool South to become the newest MP in the Commons - and in a particularly alarming sign the Tory candidate barely managed to push Reform into third place, by just 117 votes. 

Visiting the constituency this morning flanked by Angela Rayner, Keir Starmer said voters wanted to 'turn the page' on the government. 

It was the seventh parliamentary seat the Tories have lost in a by-election since Mr Sunak became PM in October 2022 - underlining that Sir Keir looks to be on track for Downing Street.

Blackpool is the seventh parliamentary seat the Tories have lost in a by-election since Mr Sunak became PM in October 2022

Carole Cross, 62, says she is overjoyed that Labour have been voted in 

Local business owner Sarah Hallet also said it was time for a change

Speaking to the MailOnline, Blackpool voters said they were overjoyed that Labour had won in the city.  

Carole Cross, 62, said: 'I'm so glad that Labour are now in control of this area. Help us to get our roads, streets and shops back to how it used to be years ago back here. 

'We need the holiday makers to come back.'

Graham Townend, 65, agreed, saying: 'Labour can't do any worse for me. I've always been Labour, ever since the strikes. 

'The conservatives have made a mess of everything.'

Local business owner Sarah Hallet also said it was time for a change. 

She said: ' There's a lot of work that needs to be carried out. Where the elections are concerned I care about my customers to come through my door. 

'Whichever MP was elected needs to follow through. We need support and to be listened to. The community have lost the faith in Conservatives. It's very tough to pinpoint what the issues are. 

'We need to be heard then we can get this place back.'

Sir Keir Starmer said: 'Blackpool is an incredible result but we are picking up seats where we need them in other parts of the country as well.'