Western was born at Wythenshawe Hospital to Denise Western 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. 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. 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. In March 2019 Western publicly opposed the plans by Mayor of Greater ManchesterAndy Burnham to make cuts to Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service. 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.
