MP challenged over vote-rigging claims

An MP has been challenged to back up claims that the vote by Oldham council tenants for a new landlord was rigged.

Oldham Council’s assistant executive director for housing, Mark Reynolds, has written to Oldham West and Royton MP Michael Meacher.

His letter follows the MP’s comments in the Chronicle on Wednesday that the vote was not a fair, proper and just ballot.

It gave 13,500 tenants the chance to vote to transfer the ownership and management of their homes from the council to First Choice Homes Oldham, and tap into £149 million worth of new investment.

More than two-thirds of tenants voted, and 7,787 said yes, while 1,210 voted against the idea.

But Mr Meacher said tenants were given only one-sided information and only half would get improvements to their homes. The MP added: “It’s a rigged ballot. There was no independent information. I don’t agree that it was a fair, proper and just ballot at all - it’s a fiddle.

“Tenants have not been told the truth and the consequences are quite serious.”

But Mr Reynolds has written to him to say: “Obviously this is a very serious allegation and one which I feel I should investigate.

“Before doing so, it would be helpful if you could provide any evidence which could assist the process. Would it be possible therefore to let me have anything you think would be useful within the next few days?”