Every Picture tells a story and every story develops its own narrative

Never let the truth get in the way of selective understanding.

Reading the original report of the Heywood family protest on 16th August 2025, you could believe that I led a right-wing protest and that I hold extreme ideological views.

My past 67 years will show a different story, and it much reflects how the narrative of the left and right has changed. In the 1975 EEC referendum Labour Party Conference voted to leave the European Economic Community. The Labour government under Harold Wilson were split on what the result should be.

Throughout my career, I was initially called far left and recently far right. I have not changed.  As a 17-year-old, I was not allowed to vote, but I supported the UK's decision to leave the EEC. From 1976 through University, I opposed the then BNP and how it was a direct attack on all non whites, attending many protest rallies over the three years 1976 – 1979. I began my teaching career wanting to open educational opportunities to all, and to give every child the chances I had in life. This has been my mantra through life.

In my early teaching years especially in the early 80’s racism and discrimination were rife, I taught at Greenhill School and Falinge Park school during this period and have retained friendship with many of my former students, I am really grateful to those who have taken the effort to contact me in recent weeks asking what can they do to show I am not racist and have never held extremist views of any right or left ideology. The 1980s was a period of materialism,  the philosophy at the time was a multicultural society containing several ethnic and cultural groups.

This philosophy had replaced the process of assimilation, a process where a minority group adopts the values and behaviours of the dominant country, often resulting in the loss of their own. Assimilation was thought to be the answer to integration. Assimilation was thought to be either voluntary, through acceptance of the majority culture, or involuntary, through the imposition of the majority culture. Both were meant to bring about social cohesion, with a cultural understanding and foundation. We moved to assimilation and integration after interculturalism.

This was the 1980s , when I was considered extreme left. Only because I believed we could integrate, and I still do, if we do not allow the majority to feel they are becoming the minority purely because of political direction. When the political classes have decided they know best, and stop listening, then you have a social breakdown. I became chair of Education in 2000 and proudly turned this authority from 4th worst in England to the most improved within 18 months. Introduces early years education across the borough, and improved special need provision across the age range.

When I left teaching in 1996 to pursue politics [representing Heywood for 19 years] it was early in my political life I was a loan voice supporting a local resident who had been abused by their primary school teacher, and demanding that he was not allowed back to Heywood, so that the pupil now an adult, would not see him on our local streets. [story covered by Heywood Advertiser. Indeed, the three local newspapers Heywood Advertiser, Middleton Guardian and Rochdale Observer long with the M.E.N covered a large number of stories, where I have always put our community first.

In 2012, I introduced the first Armed Forces Covenant anywhere in the UK, GIVING GUARANTEES of housing, schooling and medical access to every member of the armed forces returning to our borough. And for those on leave, access to free sports centres and other facilities. At the same time, I was attacked by many on the right because I stated that CSE was not just in the Asian community. Just as it is not everyone in our churches who has abused children, many would say, that is where local labour and I began to part. My politics remain the same—equality of opportunity for all.

The protest in Heywood has not been organised by me, nor have I had any involvement in their organisation. I became involved in the 14th August protest at the request of Heywood families, asking if I would call for calm and a peaceful protest. I went further and published a statement saying, anyone intending to cause trouble should stay at home, anyone wearing a mask would be told to go home, and anyone with offensive banners would be told to leave.

Yes, I spoke at the start of the protest, stating exactly the same points. I was then asked if I would help liaise with GMP, who had a large presence. I did this, which meant at various stages in the march, you will see me at the front, back and middle of the crowd. A similar role to the position I took on the 30th August march.

It seems odd to me, after so many years fighting against all forms of discrimination, to now face attacks for holding extreme right-wing views. I have never held extreme views of left or right in my 67 years. Politics in this country is in a mess and has been trending in that direction for several decades. Strange, those who campaigned for Thatcher to close the pits now argue to stop using fossil fuels. But it shows how situations change.

Labour and the left have lost their direction. Political parties have stopped listening to public opinion and believe they can now dictate opinions, assuming we will all conform without forming our own. I can not stand back and accept that all the Heywood families who supported me when I was a Labour, and who now are genuinely frightened for their family's future, are suddenly far right or racist. And I will not let any of the groups fighting for their rights as much as others stand alone.

Discussion is what we need, and people need to feel they are being heard without fear. Much has been said by many on all sides, and most without foundation. None of us should feel threatened, and that includes the media, which has a right — and I would say a duty — to report.

If we are to remain an inclusive society based on respect for each other, then that respect includes listening to both arguments for and against. If you are unwilling to consider all views and defend your point of view with facts and evidence, then you are not engaging in a debate that resembles democracy.