Jean Stretton – Neil Wilby Media

Labour only just survive by-election shocker

If political turmoil is what rocks your boat then Oldham is definitely one of the places to be in the United Kingdom. In monsoon-like weather, a Borough Council by-election was fought out between five candidates in what was expected to be a routine victory in a Labour safe seat; held in the Hollinwood ward forContinue reading “Labour only just survive by-election shocker”

Wet weather adds to low by-election turnout fears

Polling stations opened just over an hour ago in Oldham as voting takes place today in a by-election called following the sad death of Cllr Jean Stretton in September, 2022. Jean was a popular Labour Party councillor for twenty years in the Hollinwood ward and a respected former Leader of the Metropolitan Borough Council. TheContinue reading “Wet weather adds to low by-election turnout fears”

Feral female’s further falsehoods

Over the past two years or so, I have written hundreds of thousands of words on this Neil Wilby Media website about a famous old East Lancashire mill town and its political trials and tribulations, writes Neil Wilby. It’s a journey I never wanted to make in the first place and one from which anContinue reading “Feral female’s further falsehoods”

Oldham by-election set to be hotly contested

Following the sad passing of Cllr Jean Stretton, a former Leader of Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council, a by-election will take place on Thursday 17th November, 2022 to elect a successor as one of the three councillors representing the Hollinwood ward. Labour Party colleagues, Cllr Kyle Phythian and Steve Williams, presently hold the other two seatsContinue reading “Oldham by-election set to be hotly contested”

Lower than a snake’s belly

Even allowing for the fact that unemployed, Tameside-based conspiracy theorist, Raja Miah, is, very arguably, the Greater Manchester Region’s most persistent, mendacious liar, and a deeply unpleasant individual whose ready resort to violent fantasies and mindless smearing of those with whom he has an axe to grind, the output from his frequently banned Recusant NineContinue reading “Lower than a snake’s belly”

Conservative leader falls down his own trap

At the last Full Meeting of Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council, held on 8th September, 2021 the various question time sessions proved a little more controversial than usual, writes Neil Wilby. Following an article published elsewhere on this website last month (read here), reporting calls by Council Leader, Arooj Shah, for more public engagement andContinue reading “Conservative leader falls down his own trap”