On Tuesday Oldham council leader Jean Stretton has been ousted by the council’s Labour group, Failsworth Councillor Sean Fielding will become the new leader on the 23rd of May. Councillor Fielding took to twitter on Wednesday to say “Clearly with a change in personnel there will be changes in style and approach and much more on this will follow.” He added “I’ve already set to work on building the right team to take our Borough forward and announcements on this will be made in the coming days.” Only time will tell if Councillor Fielding has the willingness to be more honest and open than the old guard is about the real driving forces behind Oldham’s social and economic decline but we doubt it.
Also on Tuesday Oldham MP Debbie Abrahams was sacked from the shadow cabinet over bullying claims. In a statement, she said she “strongly refutes” the bullying claims and would continue to play an active role from the backbenches.” A Labour spokesman said Ms Abrahams had been “relieved of her post as shadow work and pensions secretary”.”After a thorough party investigation into allegations of workplace bullying, Debbie Abrahams has been referred to the NEC disputes committee,”