Neil Wilby Media

Over the past few days, news has emerged from the Civic Centre in Oldham that its most controversial councillor is facing a wide-ranging complaint by the Council Leader, Cllr Arooj Shah.

Cllr Lewis Quigg, elected to represent the Royton Ward in vexed circumstances in 2022 (read more here), is said to have ‘intimidated’ the Leader and subjected her to ‘racism and far-right extremism’.

Whilst nominally representing the Conservative Party, it is well recognised that his public outbursts would place his political flag nearer to groups such as Britain First. Particularly, as he is aligned to a group of Tameside-based malcontents and axe-grinders whom self-style as ‘The Rabble‘. Its membership comprises a concerning number of known racists and far-right activists, past and present.

Earlier this year, a fellow Conservative Party councillor, Max Woodvine (Saddleworth South) denounced Cllr Quigg (along with Cllr Dave Arnott and the now departed Robert Barnes) as ‘not a proper Tory (read more here)’

Well known for his childish, petulant demeanour in the civic chamber, Cllr Quigg acts as a mouthpiece for The Rabble promoting, in particular, their bizarre, evidence-free ‘grooming gang’ conspiracy theory that, in summary, involves every Labour politician in the Borough, an entire police force, their safeguarding partners, senior paid council officers and journalists all conspiring to cover up child sexual abuse and exploitation in return for Asian block votes in local and general eleetions.

Cllr Shah’s complaint is, however, grounded in the phrase ‘jam, marmalade & mango chutney’ used by Cllr Quigg to criticise her council’s ‘£500 million fantasy regeneration scheme for the town centre’.

Cllr Quigg is also currently subject to at least two other Standards complaints filed by his fellow councillors; one Liberal Democrat and one Labour. 

Neil Wilby Media is aware of another potential complaint against the errant elected Member after contact from a member of the public seeking assistance in drafting a complaint. The subject individual was allegedly blocked on social media by Cllr Quigg and refused to provide an explanation when contacted by mail.

The next Full Council meeting in Oldham is, in fact, this evening (13th December, 2023) starting at 6pm and can be viewed live on the Council’s YouTube channel (weblink here).

It is worth tuning in, even for a short time to see for one’s self the tragi-comedy of a Council variously described as ‘Odious Oldham’, the ‘worst’ or ‘most corrupt’ in the country or a ‘bandit council’.

Follow Neil Wilby on Twitter (here) and Neil Wilby Media on Facebook (here) for signposts to any updates.

Page last updated: Wednesday 13th December, 2023 at 07h55

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Picture credit: Oldham Council

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