A Salford City Councillor described as the “truest servant of the people” is stepping down from his role after 35 years of service.
Councillor John Warmisham will be stepping down from the position, a role which he has described “pretty amazing, certainly for a working-class lad from Salford.”
He shared on social media on March 8, 2025, “I have this morning informed the chair of Salford Labour Party Local Government Committee that I will not be standing as a candidate in the May 2026 local elections.”
And after 35 years in the role, his interests in serving people began when he started work in the building trade, and became a shop steward at 16.
Following this interest, John described how he was always a strong trade unionist, a passion which continued when he got married and had children.
And this passion would continue as Cllr. Warmisham would become the chair of the local resident’s group, until one of the local councillors urged him join the Labour party.
However, he believed that he was only asked so he would help deliver leaflets – nonetheless he would join the Labour party.
Through this period, he worked in a few elections before being asked to go on the local government panel.
And after a few interviews for different wards, he was selected in May 1991 to represent the Pendleton ward after the passing of a councillor.
During his time as councillor, he was later asked by the local government association to go on the Congress of Europe.
The Congress was set up for local authorities across Europe after the war by Churchill, De Gaulle and Stalin in an attempt to bring communities back together.
And in the role, Cllr. Warmisham was able to become the UK delegation leader.
As he detailed one of the duties he carried out during his time in the role, as he brought back historic Jewish cemeteries and his work on human rights.
He said: “There’s a lot of interesting work that I was involved in and again met some amazing people and visited some amazing places.”
However, after he had a triple bypass, and a heart valve replaced last year he stepped down from his role in the council of Europe.
And despite stepping down, his hard work wasn’t ignored as he was named an honorary member for life, and in October he collected his lifetime medal.
And after announcing that he will not be running in the May 2026 local elections he shared how important the last 35 years have been to him.
He said: “Born and bred here, Love the city and it has just been an honour to serve it, and to represent the city that I love and the people that I care about, it has been fantastic.”
The Salford Councillor continued: “I’m very honoured and privileged to be able to do it and help as many people as I can. Salford people are just the salt of the earth, every member of the community has got something to offer.
“I was first elected in May 1991, so by May 2026 I will have served 35 years as a councillor in the city I love.”
And following the news that he will be steeping down from the role, Salford MP Rebecca Long-Bailey said: “John you have dedicated your life to the people of Salford and transformed so many lives. The truest servant of the people there ever was.”
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