Burnham on Arooj Shah after letter row

Andy Burnham has given his verdict on Oldham council chief Arooj Shah after she survived a leadership challenge amid ‘secret letter’ controversy.

Labour councillor Shah retained her role as boss of the borough yesterday (May 21) after independent councillor Kamran Ghafoor attempted to take power with a coalition of smaller parties.

Oldham is currently run by a minority Labour administration, and Coun Ghafoor’s bid was the third time opposition councillors attempted to dethrone her.

It seemed the latest challenge could be the most likely to succeed, given a row erupted in the council after Coun Shah sent a ‘secret letter’ to the government.

Earlier this year, Oldham councillors voted to leave Places for Everyone, a housing blueprint to build 115,000 new homes across Greater Manchester which has been criticised for allowing some development on the green belt.

Oldham’s narrow vote to leave forced Coun Shah to write a letter to Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner asking for permission to withdraw. But she then wrote a second ‘secret’ letter to Ms Rayner explaining she did not agree with the request. 

The move was subsequently criticised as an attempt to ‘undermine’ the will of the council and an ‘affront to local democracy’.

Council leader Arooj Shah defended the cabinet’s decision to write the second letter, stating: “We can write to government on any issue we see fit, as can any other individual councillor or group. There’s nothing secret about this letter – all we did was reinforce our publicly stated position.

“Given I was compelled to sign the letter which went from council, cabinet felt it important to clarify the view of the group and the administration.”
A day after Coun Shah survived another battle, Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham gave his verdict on Oldham’s leader.

Speaking on BBC Radio Manchester, he said: “People should put place first rather than party first and pull together for Oldham. That’s what we try to do. It’s what the leader tries to do.

“It’s best to get in a position where the place is at the forefront. Oldham have got some really exciting plans around Oldham Athletic, which we will support.

“I understand the concerns around Places for Everyone, but it’s not in Oldham council’s gift. The government of any colour requires a plan to deliver homes.

“I would say let’s look at the things going on in Oldham where we have agreement.”

Earlier this week, Coun Shah appeared at the UK Real Estate, Investment, and Infrastructure conference in Leeds to talk up the council’s plan to redevelop the town centre with thousands of new homes and a public park.