Council leader quits after Labour's election blow

A council leader has announced that she will step down after Labour lost control of the town hall.

Oldham Council's Arooj Shah ruled out making a deal with other parties who she criticised for their "divisive and toxic campaigns".

Her Labour group lost nine of the 12 seats it was defending on the 7 May vote, leaving the group with just 18 members.

Reform gained 13 councillors, propelling it from one of the smallest to the second largest group in the council.

The Oldham Group of independents now has 10 members.

Any group hoping to gain control of the council by the local authority's first full meeting on 20 May will have to negotiate the support of other groups.

Shah said Labour "will not seek any working arrangement" with "parties that have run divisive and toxic campaigns, effectively carving up the borough through identity and grievance politics that go against our values".

She added: "I also urge all parties to use the positions they have secured to draw a line under their infighting, work to raise the bar, and lower the temperature of political conduct in the borough."

Oldham West MP Jim McMahon praised the "local Labour leadership for attracting investment, regenerating our borough, and rebuilding local services".

He also added that "politics can be unforgiving" and that he "plans to work constructively with whoever forms an administration".

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