Oldham council leader says borough faces ‘serious challenge’ following no-confidence vote

Oldham council leader Arooj Shah says the borough faces a ‘serious challenge around identity politics’ – with ‘every issue becoming a divisive issue’ – following a no-confidence vote mounted against her.

The town hall boss fended off the challenge at a full council meeting on Wednesday (May 21).  

Oldham Group councillor Kamran Ghafoor made a bid for the role, claiming ‘residents have lost trust in the current administration’. 

He tried to create a ‘rainbow alliance’ across political groups, but the attempt failed after four independents stood by Labour leaders. 

At a Greater Manchester Civic Leadership Programme in Manchester for underrepresented identities on Thursday (May 22), Coun Shah claimed the no-confidence vote was ‘personal’. 

Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, she later added: “This is about some people not accepting who I am, what my upbringing is, what my heritage is, what my faith is. They can never attack me on delivery, because I have delivered for this borough.” 

Coun Shah highlighted the council’s improved financial position; the recent Ofsted upgrade to a ‘good’ rating for children’s services; and much-improved high school attendence rates. 

“We have a serious challenge in Oldham around identity politics,” Coun Shah added. 

“Every issue becomes a divisive issue. If we fix a pothole in one area, we’re told ‘you only fix roads in white areas’. We fix a pothole in a predominantly Asian area, I’m told I ‘only look after my own’. 

“I’m the leader of a council. My job is to bring people together, not divide them.”

Coun Ghafoor said: “We remain committed to equality, fairness, and mutual respect. Criticism of councillor Shah’s leadership has never been about her gender. 

“It has always been about accountability, transparency, and the quality of her leadership. Reducing it to identity politics is a disservice to the many women – and men – who believe in genuine, inclusive representation.”