Saddleworth South Councillor Max Woodvine has saluted a ‘positive’ last 12 months for his party in Oldham

Twenty-one-year-old Cllr Woodvine, who won his seat on Oldham Council last year after three years on Saddleworth Parish Council, admitted that there has been tense moments and heated debates in the chamber, but positive harmony at times too.

“It’s been a good 12 months, and we’ve got a strong Conservative opposition on the Council now, without a doubt,” said Cllr Woodvine at last night's local election count.

“I’m proud that we’ve been able to bring forward a few of our own ideas, namely being the only party to propose a Council tax freeze.

“That’s just part of the difference the Conservative group have made on the council this past year, and that’s a big positive.

“There’s been tension in the council chamber, but members of all parties have maintained close relations and I think we’ve worked together to deliver for Oldham.

“We just have different ideas about how to go about it quite often.

“In Saddleworth the Conservatives have got a good record of helping local people for many years now.”

Cllr Woodvine was also asked about the national political scene and the leadership of Tory Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

It’s been a tough year for him undoubtedly as much-publicised and high profile rules have been found to have been broken, but that would appear to be the case locally too.

“For everything that Boris has done wrong, he has also done a lot of things right, and people have given him the benefit of the doubt,” reflected Cllr Woodvine.

“That goes for Labour too. If anything, they’ve done things worse.

“When Boris was partying last summer, people in my ward were partying too – lots of people took liberties.

“I think that’s why a lot of people are giving Boris the benefit of the doubt now.

“The public see him as a human being, largely because they were doing similar things.

“I don’t think it is as negative as people expect – people just seem happy to draw a line under it.”

 

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