Council leader pays tribute to predecessor after being unanimously voted in as replacement

Oldham's new council leader has paid tribute to her predecessor, after being unanimously voted in as replacement at a council meeting last night.

Arooj Shah lost her Chadderton South seat in the local elections held on May 5th.  Conservative candidate Robert Barnes took the seat after beating the former leader by 96 votes following a bitter campaign.

Cllr Amanda Chadderton said the former leader was "on the side of Oldham people" and had "not known her to take a day off work" since becoming a cabinet member in 2019.

"She was ambitious for the borough that she grew up in and she was always chasing for more' she added.

"We don't go into [public service] to be targeted by a campaign of harassment and abuse," Cllr Chadderton says, adding she received death threats, and online attacks.

Liberal Democrat leader Cllr Howard Sykes also paid tribute to Ms Shah, saying democracy can be "sharp and abrupt", adding that she led despite attacks on herself and her family.

"I take no pleasure that the bully boys have won", he added.

Labour Councillor Graham Shuttleworth said that some members of the Tory party should "hang their heads in shame - be they those who delivered the abusive material or those who denied any knowledge of such materials". He is referencing an election leaflet circulated in Chadderton South making allegations about the former council leader.

He added that Chadderton South is worse off for losing her as a councillor, and hopes that they can one day welcome her back to the chamber.

After being voted in as leader, Cllr Chadderton said it was the "absolute honour of my life" to become the leeader of Oldham Council.

"I've lived here my whole life - contrary to rumours online"

She continued: "I'm also proud to stand here today as the first openly gay leader of Oldham council - whilst I can already see how some people are beginning to use this fact as a means to sow hatred I won't be forced to hide who I am. Representation matters."

"Diversity matters and these are things to be celebrated and not to be used as some sort of weapon against people," she added.

"Whilst this is the greatest honour of my life I am under no illusions that it also the greatest professional challenge I have faced."

Cllr Chadderton outlined her three priorities in the coming year as:

• being a 'resident focused council'
• ensuring regeneration and housing plans continue 'at pace'
• a focus on children and young people

She also said the authority want to be the top council in Greater Manchester for enforcement over fly-tipping and waste dumping by this time next year

Cllr Chadderton added that she intends to hold a 'cost of living' summit bringing together the council, businesses and residents to find new ways to support people during this time of financial pressure.

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