Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council

‘There’s one born every minute’

‘Can you believe this?!!’ said the text message from a professional associate this morning. She was referring to the image posted beneath the headline on this page. The reply from the author of this article, Neil Wilby, and the subsequent digital conversation went like this: ‘Pull the other one! No-one can possibly be so utterlyContinue reading “‘There’s one born every minute’”

Respected social justice campaigner aims to heal toxicity

The founder of Homeless Friendly and leading activist, Cllr Zahid Chauhan OBE, is promising to reunite the people of his home town and restore peace across the borough ahead of becoming Oldham’s new Mayor. This commitment comes after another turbulent local election in the town earlier this month, which saw the council lose its thirdContinue reading “Respected social justice campaigner aims to heal toxicity”

Back where she belongs

Just over a year ago I stood with Jim McMahon MP, feet away from Arooj Shah, as she gave one of the classiest speeches I have ever heard following her shock defeat in the 2022 Oldham Council elections, writes Neil Wilby. She had lost her seat in the Chadderton South ward following a grotesque smearContinue reading “Back where she belongs”

Council Leader responds to child sex abuse smears

Oldham Council’s Leader, Cllr Amanda Chadderton has issued a public explanation over criticism of her own and the Labour Party’s handling of historic child sexual exploitation (CSE) in the Borough. A smear leaflet, of the genre that helped dislodge her two predecessors, Sean Fielding and Arooj Shah (read more here), has been circulated in herContinue reading “Council Leader responds to child sex abuse smears”

Police confirm third arrest of notorious conspiracy theorist

In a short statement issued yesterday (28th April, 2023), Greater Manchester Police said: “Yesterday morning (Thursday 27th April 2023) a 49-year-old [was] arrested on suspicion of stirring up racial hatred outside a place of worship on Featherstall Road North, Oldham. “The male has been released and no further action has been taken”. The lines wereContinue reading “Police confirm third arrest of notorious conspiracy theorist”

No ‘cover-up’ this time claims beleaguered local council

An article published by Neil Wilby Media yesterday morning (26th April, 2023) has certainly raised hackles in both Oldham Council and the Borough’s Liberal Democratic Party, but for very different reasons. A now familiar ‘cock-up’ and ‘cover-up’ by the council’s senior paid officers was alleged over yet another mistake in its handling of the localContinue reading “No ‘cover-up’ this time claims beleaguered local council”

Controversial Labour Party Organiser moving on

Oldham’s controversial Labour Party Organiser is set to leave the Borough at the end of June, 2023 after a turbulent two years which has seen two Council Leaders and eight other councillors lose their seats at the local elections in 2021 and 2022. Tony Short was also involved in a complaint against another Labour councillor,Continue reading “Controversial Labour Party Organiser moving on”

Another SLAPP in face for persistent, vexatious complainer

A notoriously persistent, vexatious, Tameside-based complainer, Raja Miah, has suffered yet another in a long line of setbacks seeking redress against those by whom he feels slighted. Objections made to the Solicitors’ Regulatory Authority (SRA) about a leading Manchester law firm, JMW Solicitors, and two of their lawyers, has amounted to nothing. In December, 2022,Continue reading “Another SLAPP in face for persistent, vexatious complainer”

Council Leader ‘appalled’ over independents’ ‘gutter politics’

Royton South was always going to be one of the key wards in the forthcoming Oldham Council elections where voters go to the polls on 4th May, 2023. The Council Leader, Cllr Amanda Chadderton has held a seat there since 2012 and faced a year long smear attack, in an unvarnished attempt to unseat her,Continue reading “Council Leader ‘appalled’ over independents’ ‘gutter politics’”

‘Malicious Beggar’ concedes defeat as ‘People’s Princess’ set to return to council

A notorious, unemployed, Tameside-based conspiracy theorist has admitted, through gritted teeth, on his frequently banned Recusant Nine social media platforms that his latest smear campaign against the former Leader of Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council is doomed to fail. Raja Miah, also widely known as ‘The Malicious Beggar’ (or simply ‘The Beggar’), over his relentless leechingContinue reading “‘Malicious Beggar’ concedes defeat as ‘People’s Princess’ set to return to council”