History will be made

Cllr. Jean Stretton

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TOMORROW it will be decided who becomes the new leader of Oldham Council – and for the first time the job will go o a woman.

The position becomes vacant with current leader Jim McMahon stepping down after becoming Oldham’s newest MP. Councillors Jean Stretton and Arooj Shah will go head to head for the vacancy.

Dave Hibbert, long-serving Chadderton South councillor and cabinet member for housing, planning and transport, put his name forward but has pulled out following the local Labour party’s decision to deselect him.

At a meeting tomorrow, 43 Labour councillors will vote for their preferred candidate. The winner will technically become leader of the Oldham Labour group. Councillors from all parties will then vote to approve the proposed new leader at a special full council meeting before the end of the month.

As Councillor Stretton is the current deputy leader, if she is elected as leader a new deputy must be voted in.

The vastly experienced Councillor Stretton is cabinet member for health and well-being, leading the borough on the devolution of significant new health powers and a £6billion budget to the Greater Manchester Combined Authority.

Councillor Shah is a surprise candidate, having been a councillor for less than four years. She has quickly become a popular figure in the council chamber.

Born and raised in Oldham, Councillor Shah will be helping to run Mr McMahon’s Oldham office now he is an MP.

Result and vote reaction in Monday’s Chronicle.