Sarah Radcliffe – Neil Wilby Media

Journalism is not a popularity contest – but this abuse is absolutely off the scale

As an investigative journalist, an essential requirement is to develop a thick skin and the ability shrug off both criticism and resistance to what is being probed, writes Neil Wilby. Particularly, from subjects of those enquiries and their circle of friends and associates who may feel threatened by what may, potentially, be exposed. This can,Continue reading “Journalism is not a popularity contest – but this abuse is absolutely off the scale”

Disgraced hyper-local party mired in yet more controversy

Scandal-hit Failsworth Independent Party, never far from headlines in the local, regional and national press, face more controversy as two of their more recent bids to silence their opponents and critics appear set not only to fail, but backfire spectacularly. The thrust of much of the press coverage, and several articles elsewhere on this website,Continue reading “Disgraced hyper-local party mired in yet more controversy”

Drinking in last chance saloon?

Following the publication on Friday 13th August, 2021 of a widely read, and shared, exclusive, elsewhere on this website (read here), a ‘peace meeting’ was arranged between Cllr Arooj Shah, Leader of Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council and Cllr Brian Hobin, Group Leader of the three-member Failsworth Independent Party. It followed the posting on-line of aContinue reading “Drinking in last chance saloon?”

Independents demand ’emergency’ recall of Council

In an extraordinary letter addressed to the chief executive of Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council, Helen Lockwood, the Group leader of the troubled Failsworth Independent Party (FIP) has demanded an emergency recall of Full Council, writes Neil Wilby. The communication was copied to three journalists and another unknown individual. It was also published on a FacebookContinue reading “Independents demand ’emergency’ recall of Council”

An exercise in futility

This is the seventh article I have written since I first became involved in a journalistic scrutiny of the local council, and the police, in Oldham. A large Borough that forms part of the Greater Manchester region and incorporates a sizeable chunk of the old West Riding of Yorkshire (writes Neil Wilby). The fifth wasContinue reading “An exercise in futility”