The Mancunian Way: It's never dull in Oldham

There was a dramatic end to the year at Oldham council last night. It featured a riot van, the phrase 'cross dressed as a Nazi' and two councillors - from the same party no less - squaring up to each other.

And after all that the meeting at the town’s Civic Centre was abandoned amid farcical scenes. Local democracy reporter Charlotte Hall was there to witness the drama unfold.

She reports things started to get heated almost from the off, as a row broke out during a debate on the controversial Places for Everyone housing scheme. Members of the public and councillors began hurling abuse at each other and the acting borough solicitor, including references to ‘dictators’ and ‘Nazi sympathisers’.

In a bid to calm things down the meeting was adjourned, but the clashes didn’t end there. An argument broke out between Conservative leader Graham Sheldon and his deputy Lewis Quigg.

Coun Quigg could be heard saying 'I quit this party. You no longer have any say over me', before both councillors could be seen squaring up to each other. After police attended the scene the meeting was resumed, but when Coun Quigg refused to apologise for the ‘aggressive behaviour’ it was promptly abandoned.

In a statement released after the meeting council leader Arooj Shah described the scenes as a 'step too far' and accused those involved of disrespecting democracy. It’s never dull in Oldham.

Speaking of the Places For Everyone scheme that sparked last night’s trouble, Andy Burnham’s 15-year housing blueprint for Greater Manchester is set to go to the High Court after a crucial ruling. The plan, which paves the way for tens of thousands of new homes to be built, was approved by nine Greater Manchester boroughs earlier this year.

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