'There’s definitely something that’s not right or normal about the politics in Oldham' - Arooj Shah on why she's back as council leader
manchestereveningnews.co.ukBecoming the leader of Oldham council is not a job for the faint hearted. Previous incumbents have talked of death threats, campaigns of harassment and needing police protection amid a backdrop of conspiracy theories and misinformation.
And there’s the looming threat of being ousted, whether at the ballot box – which has claimed all three of the past leaders in as many years – or through a Labour internal party coup, which occurred five years ago.
Someone who knows exactly how much it takes to head up the borough is Arooj Shah. She took over from Sean Fielding following his election loss in 2021 to become the first female Muslim council leader in the north of England.
A little over two months after taking on the top role her car was fire-bombed outside her home in Oldham. She later told councillors she had been physically threatened, and faced ‘regular’ death threats.
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