Stephen Walsh – Neil Wilby Media

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”

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”

‘Public nuisance’ set to defy Council ASBI warning

News of the unedifying scenes of public disorder that marred the last two meetings of Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council has, regrettably, spread far wider than the boundaries of the famous old East Lancashire mill town (read more here). The Council has, in line with a promise made by its new Leader, Cllr Amanda Chadderton (readContinue reading “‘Public nuisance’ set to defy Council ASBI warning”

Can democracy trump chaos?

Over the past month there have been unprecedented scenes of serious disorder during two meetings of Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council. The first of those was an Extraordinary Meeting called in the wake of a controversial and much delayed ‘Assurance Review’ into historic child sexual exploitation (CSE) in the town. The second was a scheduled meetingContinue reading “Can democracy trump chaos?”

Notorious burglar shamed by financial regulator

Due to the vigilance of a whistleblower, codenamed ‘SM’ (mentioned here to acknowledge his/her contribution) it has been drawn to the attention of the author of this article, Neil Wilby, that Oldham’s most notorious and prolific convicted burglar, Garry Dunkerley, has, potentially, landed himself in more hot water this week: On 27th May, 2022, theContinue reading “Notorious burglar shamed by financial regulator”

Controversial ‘vigilante group’ set for Town Hall showdown

One of the hottest current topics, in a notoriously racist town north east of Manchester, is a neighbourhood group described in the city’s evening newspaper as ‘vigilantes’. (read more here). Failsworth Street Patrol (FSP), founded around eighteen months ago and run by local man, Paul Wadsworth, purports to keep the streets safe by sending outContinue reading “Controversial ‘vigilante group’ set for Town Hall showdown”

When deceit is your stock in trade

Much has been written elsewhere on this website about, very arguably, the most notorious hyperlocal political party in the country. It is a rare week, indeed, when the Failsworth Independent Party (FIP) is not embroiled in one scandal or another. Mostly brought about by the deceit and subterfuge that threads through just about everything theyContinue reading “When deceit is your stock in trade”

Poisoning the debate

This article is heavily underpinned by extracts taken from HOPEnothate’s 2022 State of Hate report headlined ‘On The March Again‘. Full credit is given to them. The 140 page document can be accessed in full here. In the chapter headed ‘Hyperlocal Politics: New channels’ (page 84) the Failsworth Independent Party (FIP) and susceptibility to farContinue reading “Poisoning the debate”

Troubled hyper-local party loses another election candidate

It is widely accepted that a North Manchester suburb has a deep rooted problem with racism, stretching back for decades. With a population listed as 95% white that might not be the biggest surprise in the region or the wider country. Failsworth has also, very arguably, the most disgraced independent political party in the countryContinue reading “Troubled hyper-local party loses another election candidate”