Oldham’s bid for transport thwarted

A second ex-leader of Oldham council has lost a bid for control over Greater Manchester’s public transport.

Labour councillor David Jones’s bid to become vice- chairman of Greater Manchester Integrated Transport Authority was defeated by Lib-Dem and Tory councillors at the annual meeting.

The Chronicle revealed last week that Saddleworth councillor Richard Knowles had been toppled as the leader of the Lib-Dem group on the ITA by veteran Manchester councillor Keith Whitmore — who was elected chairman of the authority at the same meeting.

Labour is the biggest party on the authority but their nomination, Andrew Fender — another long-serving Manchester councillor — was beaten by 18 votes to 13 as the Lib-Dems and Conservatives combined.

Councillor Jones was beaten to the vice-chairmanship by Salford Tory Ian Macdonald.

Councillor Whitmore, who leads his party’s European local government group, made a plea for unity after his election.

He said: “We have always operated as an all-party authority and that is why we have had so much success in lobbying the Government.”

“I very much hope that we will continue to fight for public transport on an all-party basis.”
Manchester is already the lead authority for transport on AGMA and chief executive Sir Howard Bernstein is clerk to GMITA.