Oldham's party groups react after council deadlock meeting

Ahead of Wednesday's meeting (July 15), councillors were warned that if they do not find a way forward soon, they could be breaking the law.

If it continues, the monitoring officer may have to issue a Section 5 report, which is handed out when a council has or is about to act unlawfully.

Several proposals for the position of council leader have been made from across the political spectrum, but none of the amendments has received the 31 votes needed for a majority.

Other suggestions have also been mentioned in the council chamber, including a group leadership model, where all parties are represented in the cabinet.

Another proposal would see the voting rules changed so that all nominations are voted for at the same time, instead of individually.

We’ve reached out to each party group for their reaction to the latest meeting. Here’s what they had to say.

Liberal Democrats

In a statement, Cllr Al-Hamdani has warned that the ongoing deadlock could cost the borough “millions” and “have real-life impacts on people who need support”.

He has also slammed both Labour and Reform UK for “blocking” the alternative suggestions during this week’s meeting.

Cllr Al-Hamdani said: “For both groups – Labour and Reform together – to deny the Council the opportunity to vote on alternatives is shameful.

"All councillors have been told that we have to be making genuine attempts to form an administration, and those two groups did not even entertain them.

"Council officers had stated that they would start the legal procedure to call in the commissioners should this meeting fail to appoint an administration.

"Labour voted down six of the seven options on the table – they were only interested in themselves.

"Reform did exactly the same. That’s not a negotiation – that’s an ultimatum.

"I cannot see how that is the action of anyone making a genuine effort to form an administration.

"They must take responsibility for their actions.”

The Oldham Group

The Oldham Group, led by Cllr Kamran Ghafoor, have also criticised Labour and Reform UK and expressed their support for a cabinet with a rotating leadership model, along with the Liberal Democrats.

Cllr Ghafoor described last night’s meeting as a “missed opportunity”.

He said: “The Oldham Group and the parties working with us were the only ones prepared to make meaningful concessions to break the political deadlock and establish a stable administration.

"We were willing to compromise because our priority is delivering for the people of Oldham, not playing political games.”

The representative for Hollinwood also noted Reform UK’s heated reaction to the shared leadership model proposal, adding that “Oldham deserves calm, responsible leadership, not political theatrics”.

His statement concludes: “Our message remains simple: we are ready to meet with any political group, at any time, to agree a solution that delivers stable leadership and protects local democracy.

"Every day this deadlock continues brings Oldham closer to Government intervention, commissioner control and millions of pounds in unnecessary costs.

"The Oldham Group remains committed to putting Oldham before party politics.

"We urge others to do the same before it is too late.”

Labour

Oldham’s Labour group have also called for “compromise and dialogue” in the wake of the latest meeting.

Following the May local elections, where the party lost eight seats, Labour announced that they would not be looking to form an administration this time around.

However, the party has since U-turned on that decision in a bid to end the stalemate.

The group’s leader, Cllr Arooj Shah, said in a statement: “We respect the electorate and have been clear from the outset that we understood voters largely backed other parties in the election.

"We also know we don’t have the numbers to command a clear majority, and things couldn’t simply carry on as they were.

"For that reason, we are also offering greater collaboration with the creation of a group leaders council to get input into decisions affecting the borough from all political parties.

"We know the council needs a reset and that all members have something to contribute and want to see the area they represent improve.

"We know too that councillors, like the public, are impatient for change and want to see the place they call home look and feel better, and that means a greater focus on getting the basics right in every neighbourhood.”

The statement also lists some of the achievements of the previous Labour administration and reasons they believe the party is well-positioned to lead again.

These include improvements to children’s services, adult social care, being named the most improved council in the country and the “protection of the council’s finances”.

They have also cited the Labour group’s relationship with the Greater Manchester leadership and the soon-to-be Prime Minister, Andy Burnham.

Cllr Shah said: “Leadership is not an easy role. It takes courage, conviction and commitment.

"Oldham Labour has the experience and ability and stands ready to lead.

"We have to move beyond parties simply stating what they are against, and start to work through the practical reality of where we find ourselves.”

Reform UK

Following yesterday’s meeting, Reform UK has issued a statement on Facebook, reiterating their position of “no coalitions and no secret agreements”.

Cllr Lewis Quigg, the group’s leader, said: “When Reform UK was the only administration proposal on the table, it was rejected by all of them.

"Our offer was straightforward: to make the Council more efficient, more accountable, more transparent and more financially responsible on behalf of the people of Oldham. That offer was rejected.

"We proposed giving opposition parties all committee chairmanships, ensuring full oversight, effective scrutiny and genuine accountability. That too was rejected.

"We put forward an administration focused on Reform UK's core objective of fixing the basics and delivering better services for residents. Again, it was rejected.”

Reform UK is strongly opposed to the group leadership model, which Cllr Quigg has described as “an artificial grand coalition that would ultimately have seen Labour and Arooj Shah returned to power through a rotating leadership arrangement”.

He added: “There appeared to be an expectation that Reform UK should either support such an arrangement or abandon the promises we made to voters, simply so others could maintain control of what they describe as a 'progressive' administration.

"The answer was, and remains, no. The electorate voted for change — not more of the same with a different face attached to it.”

Oldham’s Conservative group have also been contacted for comment.