The leader of Oldham Council Arooj Shah is to step down from her position as council leader at the AGM later this month
Labour lost control of the council following Thursday’s local elections and Shah has ruled out working with any of the other parties in the council chamber with Reform being the second largest party in the chamber and the Oldham Group the third
Shah described their campaigns as being toxic and devisive and said that any agreement would go against the values of her party
“It’s been a huge honour and privilege to serve you. I’m proud of what we have achieved for Oldham and the people of Oldham. I will continue to be a fierce champion for Oldham and Oldham Labour will continue to serve you all” she wrote on X as she delivered her statement
“While Labour remains marginally the largest single party, we have to take note that the results across the borough clearly showed support for other parties. Both Reform, led by former Conservative Lewis Quigg, and The Oldham Group, led by former Conservative Kamran Ghafoor, gained seats and are now the second and third largest parties respectively.”
In her statement she said that following the election, The Labour Group met to discuss its position and I can confirm that we will not seek any working arrangement, either through a coalition or supply agreement, with parties that have run divisive and toxic campaigns, effectively carving up the borough through identity and grievance politics that go against our values.
“It is now for those parties to put forward proposals for how they intend to run Oldham Council, reflecting the mandate they have received from voters.”
The Liberal Democrats and independent councillors will now need to decide which, if any, of those arrangements they are prepared to support in order to secure a working majority.
