I am deeply sorry for the wonderful Labour candidates who were unsuccessful. Across Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton, I could not have been prouder of the campaign, character, and commitment shown by those who worked tirelessly, including sitting councillors who have dedicated years of public service to improving our borough.
I also want to recognise the work of the local Labour leadership in attracting investment, regenerating our borough, and rebuilding local services. There is still a long way to go, but the foundations for that progress are firmly in place.
Politics can be unforgiving, but I hope those who stood will remember above all the privilege of public service and the difference they made to people’s lives. They should take real pride in that.
My congratulations to Cllr Fida Hussain in Werneth, Cllr Nazrul Islam in Chadderton Central and to Cllr Junaid Hussain in Medlock Vale on their successful elections. I know they will continue to fight for the local communities they have been elected to serve.
I am pleased the Labour Group has ruled out any working agreement with either Reform or Oldham Group. We cannot endorse or condone the political experiment of splitting the borough based on identity politics and grievance, it is a dangerous path to take, as Oldham knows only too well.
As an MP, I will work constructively with whoever forms an administration where it is in the best interests of Oldham. Equally, I will hold them collectively and individually accountable if they fail to deliver for local people.
Nationally we have to take stock of these election results. Working people have had their trust and patience tested to the limits. It is not that people are impatient for change, they have been patient enough over decades of decline in almost every aspect of life; at work, at home and in the communities they are rooted in. Security, pride and dignity has been compromised and the basics of life are fragile.
Labour, as the party of working people know this and we’ve acknowledged it, but we haven’t been bold enough at meeting the scale of the challenge, or rooting our response in the everyday reality faced by millions of working people.
That has to change. It’s why the Labour Party was founded, and it’s the reason we exist today.
Jim McMahon OBE MP 