Oldham: Battle of the deputies - 'grubby political deals' and 'outdated gentlemen's agreements'

Mayoral nominations are usually straight-forward and largely ceremonial. But this year in Oldham, the affair has courted controversy.

The council is being accused of ‘grubby power-sharing deals’ and ‘breaking with tradition’. Different political groups have declared competing candidates and bandied about accusations of ‘politicising’ the traditionally a-political role.

So what exactly is going on?

Every year, Oldham councillors vote in a new deputy mayor, who is automatically promoted to the role of mayor the following year. Both mayors and their deputies have a symbolic role, acting as ambassadors for the borough and chairing council meetings as a neutral figurehead.

This year, Mayor Dr Zahid Chauhan will be handing the baton to Eddie Moores for 2025/26, leaving a vacant deputy mayor role.

Council bosses have reportedly nominated councillor Brian Hobin as deputy mayor, which would see him become the Mayor of Oldham in 2026. The Failsworth independent is known for campaigning on the historic child sexual exploitation cases in the borough, which has seen him featured on GB news and the Daily Mail.

But the nomination is a break from tradition. Deputy mayors are usually nominated via a points-based system, which supposedly ensures the position is taken up by representatives from a different political group each year.

This year, the nomination would have fallen to the Liberal Democrats. Coun Howard Sykes, leader of the Lib Dem group, suggested the sudden change was ‘politically motivated’.

Coun Sykes said: “If the nomination ends up going to one of these so-called Independents, it will have been because of a political stitch-up which will damage the reputation of our Mayoralty and is bad news for Oldham Borough.”

Brian Hobin is one of a small number of independents whose votes or abstentions helped the Labour leadership cling to power during a no confidence vote last year. The mayoral nomination comes just as the Labour leadership faces another no confidence vote at the annual meeting next week.

Councillor Sykes said, “It is absolutely disgraceful that the Labour Party and the so-called Independents are dragging the Office of the Mayor into their grubby power-sharing deal. “This just goes to show that Labour will do absolutely anything to keep in power despite not having a majority.”

But mayoral nominee Brian Hobin defended the decision, claiming an independent mayor ‘more accurately reflects the political make-up of the council’. Almost a third of councillors belong to independent groups, who are underrepresented in the points-based system.

Oldham Council leader Arooj Shah also hit back at the accusation. “The points system he talks about was a convention, but there is nothing in the Council’s constitution that mandates its use, independent councillors make up a third of the Council but the points system doesn’t reflect that fairly. The appointment of the Deputy Mayor is a decision which rests in the hands of all 60 councillors – not me. He’s more than welcome to nominate his own candidate if he wishes.”

This is exactly what the Lib Dem group leader has done. On Friday, May 16, Coun Sykes announced that Lib Dem councillor Alicia Marland would also be put forward for the role. Though he added he ‘expected the nomination to be snubbed’.

Speaking on her nomination, Coun Marland said: We have had the rug pulled from under us. Council leader Shah has decided to give it to one of her independent buddies. But we need to show the people of Oldham that the council can follow its own systems. I want to represent all the people of Oldham and Saddleworth fairly and honestly and put the borough on the front burner.”

The Saddleworth West & Lees councillor is known for her campaigning on road safety in Springhead and work combatting loneliness among the elderly.

Speaking on his nomination, Coun Hobin said: “It’s a big responsibility. When you put that medal on, you become Mr Oldham. From an outside perspective, Oldham sometimes looks a bit mad. I’d like to bring some calm into the chambers and the borough.”

His campaign for a CSE inquiry has sometimes courted criticism, including by survivors and other CSE campaigners, who have accused him of using the issue to bring himself publicity. Hobin categorically denied this allegation and added: “The amount of abuse I have received for putting my head above the parapet… believe me, sometimes I wish I could just walk away. I am certainly not doing this for my own interests, and the survivors I am in contact with personally know that.”

The nominees will go head-to-head at the full council meeting next week, when councillors will be asked to vote for the preferred future mayor.