Oldham Council Budget: Liberal Democrats slam “grubby deal” between Labour and “so-called” Independents

Oldham Council’s minority Labour administration was only able to pass a budgetwith support from Shaw and Crompton ‘Independents’ and the Failsworth Independent Party.  The council’s largest Opposition Group – the Liberal Democrats – said that “so-called Independents had done a grubby deal with Labour bosses, despite being elected by residents to oppose Labour".

Liberal Democrat Group Leader councillor Howard Sykes MBE said, “The so-called Shaw and Crompton Independents have done a grubby deal with the Labour leadership and part of that deal involved these so-called Independents promising to vote for Labour’s budget plans in return for favours.

“It takes some brass neck to tell people you’re an Independent councillor and then agree to vote for the Labour Party’s budget before you’ve even read it, just so you can get paid posts.”

A Liberal Democrat budget amendment which aimed to cut spending on civic centre expenses to fund more spending on parks, roads and children’s services was defeated 15 votes to 36, with the Shaw and Crompton Independents teaming up with Labour to vote down the plan.  The Labour budget passed with 31 votes for including the Shaw and Crompton Independents and 16 votes against.  There were four abstentions.

Councillor Sykes said, “I don’t think a single voter in Shaw voted Independent so that their councillor would prop up a failing Labour administration.  It’s a very grubby deal indeed."

The full Oldham Liberal Democrat Budget Amendment can be found here.