Labour remove whip from Councillor Azad

COUNCILLOR Montaz Ali Azad

OLDHAM'S Labour group have voted to remove the whip indefinitely from Councillor Montaz Ali Azad after it emerged his company employed three illegal workers.

An investigation by the Insolvency Service, working with the Home Office, found that Eurolinen UK Ltd had failed to comply with immigration laws.

The breach was discovered following a visit to the industrial laundry business, at Plantation Industrial Estate, Ashton, from Home Office Immigration Officers and resulted in a civil penalty of £15,000.

The councillor for the Coldhurst ward also failed to ensure that the company correctly operated a Pay as you Earn Scheme, by failing to declare these employees to HMRC and accounting to HMRC for any deductions made from their wages.

In September Cllr Azad was banned from act acting as a director or being involved in the management of a limited company for six years.

Cllr Azad, of Burnley Lane, Chadderton, was the company's sole director from March, 2005, until the business went into liquidation in September, 2014.

On Monday the Oldham Labour Group voted to remove the Labour Whip indefinitely from the 53-year-old councillor.

He remains an elected member of Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council but is unable to take part in any Labour Group meetings or decision making.

He also has the right to appeal to the North West Regional Labour Party against the decision.

The removal of the Labour Whip is the only disciplinary measure available to the Labour Group in Oldham and the council itself has no powers to force Cllr Azad to stand down.

Speaking after the whip was removed, Cllr Azad apologised and said: "I am really sorry for what happened in my business and for letting down Oldham residents.

"I have learned my lesson and know that I should have been more involved.

"I was not part of the day-to-day running of the business and was busy in other areas, including my council work, and I relied on the business manager to deal with hiring workers.

"But I accept it was my responsibility as the director of the company to have been better aware of what was happening."

Cllr Azad, a father of four, added that he has no plans to step down as a councillor and will continue in the role that he has held since May, 2011.

"I was a little bit shocked when the whip was removed as it was a civil case and not criminal," he said.

"I felt that I had been punished enough with the six-year ban and having my name in the newspaper.

"I did not deliberately intend to hire illegal workers or attempt to personally gain from it.

"I do not feel that what happened in my business affects my ability to be a councillor and I will continue to work for the people of Coldhurst.

"I have been dedicated to my role as a councillor for over five years and I intend to continue.

"I have not decided if I will appeal the decision of the Oldham Labour Group at this time."