Arooj Axed

ANGUISH OF DEFEAT: Defeated Arooj Shah (top left) with supporters including Council Leader Jean Stretton

THE shock result of last night’s Oldham Council local elections saw Cabinet member Arooj Shah lose her St Mary’s seat to an independent candidate.

Labour’s Shah, who stood to become Oldham Council leader just months ago — secured 1,801 votes, losing out by 289 votes to Aftab Hussain who received 2,190.

The result had no impact on the number of Labour seats in the Council chamber with the ruling party still holding 45 of the 60 seats available after their candidate Stephen Hewitt took Saddleworth West and Lees from the Liberal Democrats.

However, Shah’s defeat was last night widely acknowledged by the Oldham Labour Group as a big blow - she has been tipped as one to watch for some time.

A councillor for St Mary’s ward since 2012, she was Cabinet member for performance and corporate governance

In 2013, Councillor Shah jointly won a Local Government Information Unit award for Young Councillor of the Year.

Outspoken, Shah made the headlines in March when she revealed the harassment and intimidation she has suffered as an Asian woman councillor.

Speaking after the result, Ms Shah said: “I’m obviously hugely disappointed by the result but I would like to thank the fantastic people I have represented in St Mary’s ward and who voted for me again. I don’t want to add anything more - at this stage - about the election.”

Oldham Council leader Jean Stretton said: “We are delighted to have taken Saddleworth West and Lees from the Liberal Democrats but very disappointed to lose a valuable colleague in St Mary’s.”

Councillor Hussain, a former vice chair for the Oldham East and Saddleworth Labour Party, said he stood as a message to the Labour Party to allow its ward parties to select its own candidates.

This refers to the fact that two of Oldham’s wards are in special measures – meaning new members would be vetted and selection procedures centrally controlled by Labour to ensure rules and regulations would be followed.

Speaking after his victory, Councillor Hussain said: “The people of St Mary’s have spoken loud and clear and I am here to serve them now."