Yesterday’s council meeting in Oldham ended after five hours of talks, arguments and backroom negotiations with nothing decided and the meeting rescheduled for the 2nd June
Local elections left the council in no overall control after Labour lost eight seats while Reform U.K. are also at present refusing to form an administration
Yesterday The Oldham Group attempted to put Kamran Ghafoor forward with support from the Lib Dems, Conservatives and independents, but the chamber deadlocked before they could even legally hold the meeting because councillors had failed to elect a mayor to chair proceedings.
As local democracy reporter Ed Barnes said
A majority of councillors have voted to adjourn the meeting to a later date. A point of order is raised by Reform’s Lewis Quigg said councillors “have had a vast amount of time discussing the ins and outs” and said the public will “think we are shambles”
There are now reports that Central Government may have to get involved to solve the problem
