Cllr. Mark Ruthven-Reform UK- Failsworth West

20/05/2026

Coalition of Chaos Refuses to Work with Oldham Reform UK

For Immediate Release

Oldham Reform UK expresses its deep disappointment at the collapse of negotiations surrounding the election of the Mayor at Oldham Council.

Following the May 2026 local elections, Reform UK emerged as the party with the largest share of the vote, receiving a clear and strong mandate from residents across the borough.

We were clear, no back room deals, no secret agreements and no Coalitions. Today we made efforts to break the impasse surrounding the election if Mayor. We listened carefully but due to the entrenched positions of some, we could not progress.

No one candidate got a majority to be Mayor.

Negotiations eventually broke down. Reform UK can confirm that other political groups refused to engage constructively with us, despite our repeated attempts to find common ground.

In a genuine effort to resolve the impasse, Reform UK took the unusual and constructive step of proposing a non-Reform candidate for the mayoral position. All proposals were rejected.

This outcome leaves Oldham with what can only be described as a “coalition of chaos,” where political manoeuvring has taken precedence over the interests of local residents.

Reform UK remains clear in its position:

We acted responsibly and constructively in asking groups to put forward fresh candidates.We continue to keep the door open to all parties willing to engage in meaningful discussions to break the deadlock

Our priority remains delivering for the people of Oldham. We will continue to advocate for stability, transparency, and common-sense leadership at the council.

"Mayor Eddie Moores returned to the chamber and said: "Extensive discussions with groups that are still ongoing", adding that the meeting is about to be adjourned.

Councillor Lewis Quigg (Reform UK) said:

"The people of Oldham will look on this today and think we are a shambles and that we should rightly knock our heads together.

The opportunity is in everyone else court. We've had out door open all day and no agreement has been found."

17/05/2026

Good Afternoon Failsworth West.
An update from the whirl wind that was election day ….
This week I have attended my induction at the Council Offices and have now officially began my journey as your local councillor …..
My council phone number is 07483 512284
My council email is [email protected]
I’m ready to go ….
Locally all 4 of your Reform councillors in Failsworth will be having a meeting for action planning on 26th May 2026 .
Here to help 🙏👍🇬🇧

Sandra Ball Failsworth West
Mark Wilkinson Failsworth West

15/05/2026

In light of the pathetic post from McMahon earlier, the guy that left the elections early, leaving the same lady on her own that held the power over making this town crumble, but now defends is a recent post by Pravda whom knows the truth.

We are a strong group of 16 that will do our best this year against a coward majority party whom ran away, and the others that want to join up with each other to stop Reform, by giving us our election slogans for next year.

Not only will the same electorate vote again in the same way, but they will be joined by others whom will feel betrayed to give us the majority to govern.

Pravda

Reform have been completely transparent from day one. No coalitions. No backroom deals. No carving up Oldham behind closed doors like the same tired political class has done for years while the borough declined around them.

Now look at the reality.

Labour were scrambling around begging other groups for support while publicly pretending they stood for “stability”. The Tories ruled out Reform before a single vote was cast because bitterness and ego matter more to them than the people of Oldham. The Lib Dems folded into the same anti Reform block. The Oldham Group joined in too.

So let’s be honest about what this is.

44 councillors would rather block Reform than respect the fact thousands of residents voted for change.

All these parties are playing childish political games with Reform while pretending they care about Oldham. Here’s the thing though. The public are watching. People do not forget. These same parties just took an absolute battering at the elections because residents are sick of the petty games, arrogance and backroom politics.

Yet instead of learning anything, they carry on behaving like kids in a playground trying to stop Reform at all costs.

And let’s not forget Arooj Shah abandoning Oldham the moment things got difficult. After years of Labour failure she is walking away instead of facing the mess her party helped create. That is not leadership. That is weakness.

Reform has 16 councillors and no secret deals. The others have numbers but no vision, no unity and no answers. They created this mess through years of failure, and now they expect Reform to rescue them while surrendering the very principles people voted for.

That is not happening.

Reform will stand firm, stay honest and hold every single one of these parties accountable while they continue playing musical chairs with a borough they already ran into the ground. British local politics. A circus of egos, excuses and career politicians clinging onto relevance while residents pay the price.

09/05/2026

An open letter to Oldham.

Councillor Lewis Quigg - Leader of Reform UK Oldham

09/05/2026