Parties row over selection

A ROW has erupted in East Oldham with Labour and Liberal Democrat councillors accusing each other of playing party politics.

The dispute started at a meeting of the district partnership when Moorside resident Roy Melvin was appointed as representative on the new Co-operative Commission, which will oversee Labour’s plans to transform Oldham into a co-operative council with power devolved to district level.

The district partnership’s Lib-Dem members wanted long-time co-optee and Higginshaw resident David Wilkinson to join the commission.

But Labour councillor Nigel Newton nominated his election agent Roy Melvin with Labour chairman Councillor Shadab Qumer using his casting vote to secure the result.

The partnership’s former chairman, Lib-Dem councillor Linda Dawson, has accused Councillor Qumer of playing party politics adding that he had previously indicated support for David Wilkinson.

She said: “We were very surprised that the Labour nominee was a total unknown to the vast majority of people throughout East Oldham, and it does look as if it is a purely political nomination.”

Councillor Qumer said: “Roy Melvin is a local resident. This is the reason why I felt he would make a positive contribution to the co-operative commission and decided to support the nomination.”