Honesty is my best policy

Rebecca McGladdery - independent candidate

A FORMER Labour party member says she is seeking election to Oldham Council as an independent in the hope of helping her community.

Rebecca McGladdery is running as an independent candidate for Alexandra ward on May 22.

The 47 year old was a Labour member for five years. But after witnessing unresolved community problems Ms McGladdery, a former teaching assistant at Clarksfield Primary School, decided to stand.

Ms McGladdery is hoping to put her chequered past behind her: she admitted fraudulently claiming benefits while working January 2008-April 2009.

The £6,413 payments, including incapacity benefit and job seeker’s allowance, were repaid to the Department of Work and Pensions and she received a 12-month community order.

Ms McGladdery was also at the centre of a political scandal in the build up to the 2010 General Election after claiming Liberal Democrat candidate Elwyn Watkins had paid staff £2.80 less than the minimum wage when she worked for the party in 2009.

She repeated the claims during the historic election court case in November, 2010, that saw Labour MP Phil Woolas stripped of his Oldham East and Saddleworth seat for lying about his Lib-Dem opponent Mr Watkins.

Ms McGladdery said: “I am a completely different person than I was back then. People supported me during that time and have continued to support me since. I have changed completely and moved on from that time in my life and it will not affect my ability to perform my duties as an Oldham councillor.”

Ms McGladdery, who has also undertaken case work in her local area and previously worked as the co-optee for the local District Partnership, said: “I wanted to stand so that I could see what I could do for the community and if I could make a difference.

“I feel it is important to listen and not make promises to the community if not in a achievable position to do so. As they say, honesty is the best policy.”