Oldham Council leader Arooj Shah steps down as town hall boss on May 20, following a major setback for Labour in recent local elections. The party now holds just 18 seats, while Reform UK claims 16, prompting Labour to forgo coalitions and relinquish control.
Shah Reflects on Crushing Election Results
In her first comments since the announcement, Coun Shah describes the election outcome as devastating. “There’s no denying that the results were devastating,” she states. “We’d been campaigning for a year-and-a-half because we knew how difficult it was going to be. As soon as I walked into the count and saw the far right on one side, the independents on the other, I just thought ‘my town has been taken over by division’. That hit me really deeply.”
Labour remains the largest group but must respect voters’ choice, Coun Shah emphasizes. Residents, influenced by Reform’s claims that Oldham is broken, now look to them for solutions promised during campaigning.
Achievements and Challenges During Leadership
The St Mary’s councillor, Oldham’s first Muslim woman to lead a northern town hall since 2021, returned as leader in 2023 after losing her seat in 2022. Key milestones include opening the borough’s new market, rescuing Oldham Coliseum, and securing a multi-million-pound partnership with developer Muse.
Her tenure also navigated crises, such as the mass grave discovery at Royton Cemetery, efforts to exit the Greater Manchester Places for People housing scheme, and demands for a national inquiry into historic child sexual exploitation.
Fears for Oldham’s Future
“I love this town with a passion. I’m an Oldham girl, born and bred. So of course [stepping down] feels like a personal loss,” Coun Shah shares. A five-to-10-year improvement plan yielded significant progress, backed by residents during door-to-door talks.
She expresses deep concern: “There’s so much at stake. I pondered on this decision for hours and hours. I’m terrified about what might come for Oldham, but at the same time I have to respect democracy.”
Coun Shah attributes the shift to false narratives and populism, noting that slow changes in daily lives breed resentment toward those in power.
Election Breakdown and Leadership Stalemate
Reform UK surged with 13 gains to reach 16 seats, becoming the second-largest group. The Oldham Group added two seats net one loss to Reform. Labour, Lib Dems, and Tories all lost ground amid 47% turnout.
With no group holding a majority—none even a third of seats—forming a minority administration proves challenging. Reform rules out coalitions, raising fears of government intervention. Labour commits to opposition.
Uncertainty Over Major Projects
Leadership change casts doubt on initiatives like the Eton Star Academy on Tommyfield Market and Muse’s regeneration for 2,000 town centre homes. Coun Shah warns: she would be “absolutely devastated if anyone tried to unravel the plans for Eton Star or the Muse development” and urges against politically motivated reversals that harm opportunities for residents.
A vote on new leadership occurs at the full council meeting on May 20.
