Former chairman of LGBTory elected councillor

Matthew Sephton, the former chairman of the Conservative Party’s LGBT campaign group, has succeeded in his bid to become a councillor in Trafford.

He was elected to represent the ward of Altrincham on Friday, securing 1,515 votes.

In January, Mr Sephton, who works as a primary school teacher, stepped down as chairman of LGBTory, having been in the post for five years.

He was credited with helping to expand LGBTory in recent years and of increasing its profile among Conservatives.

Colm Howard-Lloyd was picked to replace him.

In November 2012, Mr Sephton unsuccessfully stood as the Conservative parliamentary candidate in the Manchester Central by-election. The seat was retained by Labour.

Elsewhere in Trafford, Sean Anstee, who earlier this year became one of the youngest people to lead a council in Britain, retained his ward of Bowden.

Mr Anstee, who is gay and also LGBTory’s National Treasurer, however will not be joined on Trafford Council by his twin brother, Stephen.

The sibling lost out to Labour candidate Karina Carter.

• Nov 29 2023

56 celebrities you didn’t know are gay, bisexual or lesbian