The choice is yours

Jim McMahon MP

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ON Thursday five candidates will battle it out for a seat on Oldham Council.

The Failsworth East ward is up for grabs, after Jim McMahon decided to stand down from his position as a councillor to concentrate on his role as Labour MP for Oldham West and Royton.

Mr McMahon was first elected as a councillor in 2003, aged just 23, and has held the post for 13 years.

In 2011 he went on to become the youngest council leader in the country at the age of 30.

Following the death of Oldham West and Royton MP Michael Meacher in October, 2015, Mr McMahon stood in the resulting by-election and won.

Councillors currently holding seats in Failsworth East are Norman Briggs and Cherryl Brock, both of the Labour Party.

The party is hoping to hold its seat.

Polling stations will be open between 7am and 10pm. The count will be held at Failsworth Town Hall on the night of February 16.

Here is what the candidates had to say.

LABOUR

Paul Jean JACQUES: "I was born in Manchester and have lived in Failsworth for 35 years. My family grew up here and attended local schools.

"For 38 years I worked as a teacher at schools in Manchester, Rochdale and Tameside. I recently retired from a post as a Headteacher but I am still busy working for my trade union. I also work as a Citizens Advice volunteer, supporting vulnerable and intimidated witnesses at the Crown Court in Manchester. I am an active member of the community and have many years' experience as a governor at a local primary school.

"I know Failsworth and its people well, many of them as friends and colleagues. I understand their concerns about issues such as crime, antisocial behaviour, schools, safer roads, the environment and the shortage of affordable homes to buy or rent. I will fight to save our NHS from the damaging Tory cuts. In addition, I will seek opportunities to provide more activities for young people, improve services for older people and investment in local business.

"We need councillors who are rooted in our community; people who know the area and its problems and who can speak up for their neighbours."

CONSERVATIVE

Antony CAHILL: "I have lived in Failsworth East for the past 12 years, having lived in Oldham for 25 years. My son went to school in Failsworth and now lives with his family in Failsworth.

I am proud that he stayed in the area and I want to see him and the residents of Failsworth live in a cleaner, safer and fairer environment.

"In the past year I have worked in Park Cakes, driven children with learning disabilities to school and taught maths to residents in Failsworth. In addition to this I have helped residents with issues with their businesses and I attend a work-club in the area which helps people back to work. While attending the work-club I have really tried to talk to people and signpost them in the right direction to seek professional assistance. I have met with and helped people from all walks of life - this gives me a great deal of satisfaction.

"On a more personal level I enjoy watching Oldham Athletic and I take my grandson whenever possible. I like my Rugby League and I follow The Roughyeds."

LIBERAL DEMOCRATS

Shaun DUFFY: "I have been involved in politics since I was eight years old, where I campaigned for a park for the local youth. Last year I was the youngest-ever chairman of Shaw and Crompton Parish Council. I work for a local franchise restaurant as a manager and I am a keen activist to saving local green belts and also the three-week refuge collection policy and being a real voice for the electors."

UKIP

Nicholas GODLEMAN: "I want to represent Failsworth East because I'm the only candidate who can possibly start to turn Failsworth around. Labour have continued to let us down, the Lib Dems had their chance in Oldham Council and the Tories, well, they're the Tories, aren't they?

"Failsworth has recently been met with three-week bin collections, lost its youth centre back in 2014 and yet Council Tax has increased. As a 23-year-old living alone I appreciate myself all the issues facing Failsworth.

"These include another fortnight until my half full bin is collected, excited teenagers with nowhere to go and regularly reading how all the Council money seems to be going into the town centre (new cinema etc, new car park at Oldham Mumps, to cover up another Labour failure with Marks & Spencer).

"UKIP for a long time have been the only party saying 'let's put our own first', and I now say that if I am elected for Failsworth East, that I will be fighting in Council every month to put the people of Failsworth East first. As a law graduate at only 23, my enthusiasm is second to none, and I would be honoured to take on this responsibility for Failsworth East."

GREEN

Andy Hunter-ROSSALL: Andy lives in Failsworth with his wife Catherine, and teaches maths in Oldham. He helps organise regular volunteer canal clean up events in the area and is opposed to the austerity agenda and passionate about protecting green spaces.

"Government cuts have left our public services struggling, and inevitably it's the vulnerable who suffer the most. Oldham councillors need to stand against further Government austerity, and speak out when the Government gives tax cuts to the rich while claiming there is no more money for social care.

"We're very lucky to have several beautiful green spaces in and around Failsworth, including Daisy Nook and Moston Brook. But across Greater Manchester councillors are showing a lack of understanding of the value of green spaces, and significant chunks of our Green Belt land are now under threat. Access to green spaces is vital to our mental and physical health, and green spaces can protect us from flooding and air pollution. I am keen to celebrate, protect, and even enhance our green spaces."