Identity Politics Dividing Communities, Warns Former Oldham Council Leader
“Identity politics is tearing communities apart,” warned Arooj Shah, the former leader of Oldham council, during the week marking the 25th anniversary of race riots in the north of England.
Shah resigned as leader of the borough earlier in May after local elections resulted in no single group holding overall control of the council. She expressed concern that the fragmentation of the vote in Oldham—where Labour lost ground to Reform UK and pro-Gaza independents—could lead to political deadlock in other parts of the country.
More than three weeks after the elections, Oldham, a borough with 250,000 residents, remains in political stalemate as parties have yet to agree on leadership and terms for cooperation.
“Division is not what places like Oldham need. Extremists and the far left are not healthy for any place. They instil raw rage in people – it’s absolutely dangerous.”
Historical Context and Current Challenges
In 2001, tensions erupted in Oldham, quickly spreading to nearby towns such as Burnley and Bradford. Since then, improved community relations within the borough had resulted in “no trouble on the street,” according to Shah.
However, she stated that unsubstantiated “social media lies” alleging that Labour had covered up grooming scandals in the town have poisoned local politics and intensified the “horrific, dehumanising” racist and misogynistic abuse she faced while in office. A safeguarding inquiry found no evidence supporting claims of a Labour cover-up.
“Absolutely the politics in Oldham are toxic – because there’s a Muslim leader of the council and some people don’t accept that.”
“They think because I’m brown I’m related to [grooming gangs] but I’m one of the strongest voices in saying we need to deal with perpetrators. The most important people in that were the girls that were affected.”
“Being a woman in elected office, from a marginalised community and working-class background, have contributed to the level of abuse. I’ve got voice messages saying: ‘You deserve to be raped and you deserve to die you bitch.’”
Security Concerns and Personal Impact
In 2021, Shah was subjected to threats, and last year a man was reported to police for threatening to kill her. Due to security concerns, she must attend events accompanied by Home Office security, and the offices of the council leader and chief executive have been fitted with attack-resistant doors.
“I can’t go shopping. I can’t go to [the new Oldham] market that I’m so proud of unless I’ve got security.”
Economic Development and Social Issues
Oldham is defying the trend of declining town centres with a £450 million regeneration project underway, and Eton College is planning a presence in the town.
“Economic justice and community cohesion are inseparable,” Shah said. “The issue we have in this country is class.”
Last year, Oldham was recognised at the Local Government Chronicle Awards, and Shah was named “leader of the year.”
Political Landscape After May Elections
Despite these achievements, plans remain uncertain after Labour was reduced to 18 councillors in the May elections. Reform UK became the second-largest party with 16 seats, while the Oldham Group of pro-Gaza independents holds 10 seats. A crucial meeting is scheduled for 15 June to address leadership and governance.
Shah accused Reform and the Oldham Group of “weaponising” migration and Gaza issues respectively.
“You’ve got the far right telling white working class communities: ‘You’ve been left behind because of immigrants’, and you’ve got the Oldham Group saying: ‘Nobody cares about you, nobody’s done anything about Gaza.’ I’m pro-Palestine, pro-Israel and pro-humanity – (but) Netanyahu is not waiting for Arooj from Oldham to give him a call.”
Reform UK responded by stating that Labour “has learnt nothing” from the local election results. Lewis Quigg, Reform’s group leader in Oldham, said:
“Instead of talking nonsense, we are getting on with picking up large amounts of casework from Labour councillors who have done nowt and said nowt for years. Labour failed to deliver for Oldham.”
Kamran Ghafoor, leader of the Oldham Group, denied “weaponising Gaza,” emphasizing its significance to borough residents. He added:
“This is not ‘identity politics’; it is politics driven by conviction and representation.
“The opposition alliance has repeatedly tried to engage constructively about the future governance of Oldham council. No one should face racism, misogyny or hatred in public life … We wanted her leadership to succeed for the sake of Oldham.
“Unfortunately, many residents now feel the borough has become increasingly divided.”
Reflection on Community and Identity
Shah expressed sadness over the rise of identity and grievance politics, recalling her parents’ arrival in the late 1950s and their efforts to integrate into a unified community.
“The thing that makes me so sad about the identity and grievance politics is that when my parents came over in the late 1950s, they did everything they could to integrate – everybody was one.
“I look at this playing out in my home town and think: this isn’t the Oldham I know, which cares about each other and is resilient. Your divisiveness is tearing communities apart.”
