Election leaflet part of a campaign of 'harrassment and hate'

Leader of Oldham Council, Cllr Arooj Shah

Oldham council leader Arooj Shah has accused local Conservatives of collaboration in an 'ongoing campaign of harassment and hate'.

Cllr Shah, who is standing for re-election in the Chadderton South ward in May, says the Oldham Conservative Group has failed to distance themselves from details in a leaflet distributed on behalf of Ashton-based campaigner Raja Miah.

Cllr Shah made the claims in an open letter to the Leader of the Conservative Group, Graham Sheldon, Conservative candidate in Chadderton South, Robert Barnes, and Chairman of Oldham Conservatives, Sajjad Hussain.

The leaflet accuses the council leader of covering up child sexual exploitation in order to 'garner votes' from the Pakistani community.  The leaflet also highlights Cllr Shah's ethnicity, and that the ward is 'predominately white'.  

Mr Miah has denied that the document is racist.

Whilst not produced by the Conservative Group, Cllr Shah says local Tories have been distributing the leaflet, including two Conservative candidates in May's elections.  In addition, the council leader claims Raja Miah is actively supporting Mr Barnes' electoral campaign in Chadderton South.

Cllr Shah goes on to say: "It is deeply disappointing that Oldham Conservatives has allowed their party to be used in this manner. When you signed up to clean up Oldham politics for the good of the borough, that meant standing against hate and division, not bringing it into the mainstream of political discourse.

"What is serious concern is that there appears to be coordination and collaboration taking place between your party and the campaign being run by Raja Miah.

"I hope that Oldham Conservatives are able to honour the letter and spirit of the pledge to clean up Oldham politics during the campaign."

Responding to Cllr Shah's initial letter last month, a post on the Oldham Conservatives Facebook page said the leaflet was clearly not a Conservative party leaflet and she should contact the author.

Leader of the Oldham Conservative Group, Cllr Graham Sheldon, told the Chronicle that he had responded to Cllr Shah's letter privately and personally.

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