Neil Wilby Media

The Leader of Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council, Cllr Arooj Shah, has exercised her right to reply to an article published yesterday on Neil Wilby Media in measured, but robust, terms.

The article, which can be read in full here, was based around a statement issued by nationally known child sexual exploitation campaigner, Maggie Oliver, that had two core strands:

– A complaint that her name was used in vain by two Oldham Councillors, Cllr Shah, who represents her home ward of St Mary’s, and Cllr Steve Bashforth (Royton South), during a debate over a motion setting out present and future action by the Council, and partner agencies, to tackle CSE in the Borough.

– A clarification that she did not support the repeated calls by Opposition councillors for a public inquiry into CSE in Oldham.

This is the resultant statement issued by Cllr Shah:

“I’ve been made aware that part of my speech in the council chamber on Wednesday night may have been misconstrued.

“During my speech I repeated words said at the recent Combined Authority meeting and, in so doing, I welcomed the backing that the Maggie Oliver Foundation has given to the final part of the Greater Manchester Assurance Review into Child Sexual Exploitation. I also gave thanks to Maggie and her Foundation for their tireless work in driving awareness of the horrors of child sexual exploitation and advocating for survivors.

“This Council has voted to support the next stage of that Independent Assurance Review which will focus on current safeguarding practice and will drive real improvements in how we protect children and young people today. We also voted to be the first place in the country to introduce a CSE survivors charter which will be created alongside survivors and will hold us accountable for how we work with them, how we support them and how we seek justice for them.

“Oldham is working hard to tackle and prevent children and young people from being abused and exploited and we are working hard to best support victims and survivors of these horrendous crimes.

“Nothing matters more than securing justice for victims and survivors and doing all we can to demonstrate leadership and action. The motion approved at Council on Wednesday further demonstrates our commitment to improvement.

“Finally, there must be no passage of time as a barrier to securing justice for victims and survivors and in holding offenders to account. Operation Sherwood will be judged on that outcome.”

Maggie Oliver was offered the usual courtesy of right of reply to Oldham Council’s statement. She responded thus:

“I think I’ve said what I wanted to and happy to let that stand for itself. Thanks for sharing my statement though, much appreciated”.

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Page last updated: Friday 14th July, 2023 at 18h455

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Picture credit: Oldham Council

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