Greater Manchester councillor changes allegiances

An independent Oldham councillor announced a surprise decision to switch parties following discussions about the incoming council budget.

Cllr Aftab Hussain, of St Mary’s ward, joined the Labour party on Thursday (January 18), suggesting the financial pressure on the council was the main reason for the switch. The news comes as Oldham Council resolves on its 2024/25 budget, which will need to find a way to cut £30 million in the next two years because of sky-rocketing costs and historic cuts in governmental support and grants.

Mr Hussain said: “Today the Council has announced it has to find millions in cuts to its budget due to the inaction and incompetence of the Conservative Government. I have watched as, over the last ten years local services have been starved of funding and starved of support.

“I cannot in all conscience continue to sit on Oldham Council amongst other independent and opposition councillors who not only bring no hope and no ambition for the people of Oldham but also seek to drive division among communities at a time when people are already struggling.

“The country needs a Labour government to solve the deep-seated issues facing local government and local services and locally we need a Labour council to deliver for local people and to deliver a solid plan for how we can improve the neighbourhoods and services that matter to local people.”

Mr Hussain was one of four independent councillors to hold a seat after the 2023 local elections and will now add to Labour’s majority in the council.

Labour will now hold 33 of the 60 council seats, while the Lib Dems hold 10 and the Conservatives hold eight. The Oldham Party and Failsworth Independent Party also each have three seats.

Mr Hussain first ran for a