Bury councillor Boroda confirms he will not be contesting ward elections in May

A Jewish councillor in Bury, Greater Manchester, has confirmed to Jewish News he will not be contesting the ward at the elections in May.

Nathan Boroda, elected to represent the Unsworth seat for Labour in May 2021, has served as Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing and, Deputy Cabinet Member for that portfolio, as well as representing the Council on the University of Manchester General Assembly.

But the former head boy of King David High School said:”“I want to say a huge thank you to the Unsworth residents and Council colleagues who have supported me over the last two and a half years.

“Serving as your councillor has been a truly amazing experience but now is the right time for to pass on the reins to someone else.

“I am so proud of what we have achieved together, helping hundreds of residents and securing much needed investment in road resurfacing, road safety schemes and parks.

“I will continue to play an active part in the local community, supporting the work done by Joan and Tahir as well as being a Governor at Unsworth Academy on the Manchester Jewish Rep Council.”

Boroda, who represents the Jewish Labour Movement on the Board of Deputies and sits on the management board of the Manchester Jewish Representative Council, was praised by Labour MP Christian Wakeford.

Wakeford said: “Nathan has been an exceptional Councillor for Unsworth, his hard work, dedication and compassion has shone through and I know he’ll be missed by residents and our local Labour Party alike. We all wish him the very best of luck with his future endeavours, and while Nathan will leave big shoes to fill, I know Jodie will be well up to the challenge of exceeding them!”

While many were expecting Unsworth to turn blue in May 2021, Boroda defied expectations to win the seat for Labour by 244 votes. He was subsequently re-elected in the all-out elections of May 2022 with a majority of 692.

Since his election he has completed over 1,200 pieces of casework and secured hundreds of thousands of pounds of investment to the ward as well as leading on the Council’s new Health Inequalities Strategy.

Bury Council Leader Eamonn O’Brien said: “Nathan has been a fantastic local Councillor for Unsworth, with a tenacious approach to supporting residents with casework. His contribution as a Deputy Cabinet, and more recently as Cabinet Member, has been a great help to the Council. We are sad to see him step down but wish his all the best for his future endeavours.”