Oldham Tories accused of ‘manipulating figures’ in election campaign

Oldham’s Conservative Party claimed on Facebook that Labour has run the council for 40 years.

In a Facebook post on the Conservative campaign Facebook page ‘News for Royton’ a graphic reads: “FACT: Labour have run Oldham Council for 40 YEARS. They hold 35 seats out of 60 seats on Oldham Council.”

The graphic continues: “You have to decide whether after 40 years of running Oldham Council Labour is doing a good job running local services or NOT.”

However, the Labour party has not controlled Oldham Council for the last 40 years consecutively.

Over the last 40 years, Oldham Council has been controlled by Labour and the Liberal Democrats, as well as various periods of no overall control – such as between 2007 and 2011 and 1994 to 1995, where no one party has a majority of seats.

Labour has controlled the council continuously since 2011, or 12 years ago.

The Liberal Democrats led the authority from 2000 until 2003 and from 2008 to 2011.

After this was pointed out in the Facebook post comments, Facebook commenter Andy Powell attached a screenshot and said: “You seem to have accidentally deleted the comments.”

The Conservatives responded: “Why are you taking screenshots?”

The commenter later responded: “I’m not saying things don’t need to change, but manipulating figures to suit your agenda and then blocking people who call you out on it is disingenuous, to say the least.”

The poster was criticised (Image: Royton Conservatives)

In response to a comment request from The Oldham Times, Royton North Conservative Councillor Dave Arnott replied: “I would refer you to the screenshot which you have provided.  If you add up the years from 1973 to the current day, as shown, you find that the total is 40 years. 

“If you are unsure as to who had control of the council during some of the period of no overall control, that information is readily available.

Cllr Dave Arnott

“The administrators of the News For Royton page are free to delete or amend comments as they see fit, as is common with all such platforms. The Royton Community Hub page regularly removes and deletes content.”

Liberal Democrats say Tories ‘no good at sums and numbers’

Oldham Lib Dem leader Howard Sykes said: “Just like at the council’s budget meeting the Conservatives are no good at sums and numbers. 

“This is part of a well-established pattern of the Conservatives of distorting the truth for an attempted political advantage and attempting to silence those who challenge their distortions.

Cllr Howard Sykes

“The facts speak for themselves it is more than 40 years since the Tories ran Oldham Council.

“The Liberal Democrats ran it from 2000 to 2003, and again from 2008 to 2011. 

“Therefore, apart from five years Labour have ran the Council for the last 40 years would be the truthful way of presenting the facts, and the only time Labour have not run the Council in the last 40 years is when the Lib Dems have.”

Oldham Labour hits back

An Oldham Labour spokesperson said: “Why do the Conservatives not want the people of Oldham to know they were in coalition 10 years ago?”

“Maybe it’s because they’re ashamed of the cuts they forced through.”

“Tories locally and nationally want to gut public services and make sure their rich friends do well.”

National Conservatives criticise Labour’s tax record

A Conservative spokesman said: “The Conservatives have a proven record of delivering for local communities and are focused on the services people rely on, filling potholes, cutting crime, and collecting bins on time. All while keeping council tax low.

“Labour councils mean higher council tax while offering poorer services.

“The Labour Party has no plan to deliver on the priorities of the British people – offering the same old plans: unfunded spending, higher debt, and uncontrolled migration.”

Cllr Lewis Quigg responds to Labour’s response

Cllr Lewis Quigg said: “We would like to thank the Labour Party and their activists for affording us the opportunity to highlight how Labour have driven the borough into the ground.

“From a 275 per cent increase in fly-tipping, to a £600 increase in Council tax over the past 10 years, and of course the failure to protect the Boroughs children as highlighted by the assurance review and their continued blocking of a public inquiry.

“The first election to the reconstituted Borough Council was held in 1973, initially operating as a shadow authority before coming into its revised powers in 1974. Labour has run the Council for 40 years this year.

“The Conservatives have only run the borough for a total of four years in the 1970s and Lib Dems six years in total in the 2000s.”