Oldham’s Council Leader, Labour’s Cllr Amanda Chadderton, has written to the new Chancellor to demand that Oldham residents do not pay the price for the economic crisis made in Downing Street.

On Monday 17 October, the fourth Chancellor in four months, Jeremy Hunt announced plans to cut public spending following the disastrous mini-budget – with the vital services provided by our local council expected to be in the firing line in the forthcoming tax and spending plan, now due to take place on 17 November.

Cllr Chadderton wrote to the Chancellor ahead of the review, to insist that the Conservatives in Downing Street clean up their own mess without hammering families in Oldham. She has also invited the leader of the Oldham Conservative Group, Cllr Graham Sheldon to add his voice.

In the letter Cllr Chadderton writes:

“Now we are all poorer because of failed experiment that no-one in Oldham voted for.

“I am writing to remind you that your government has no mandate for cuts to local authorities.”

“Roads need to be repaired, we have to bring down crime, children need after-school clubs, bins have to be emptied, and streets must be kept clean. We need to build affordable housing, and we need to invest in the support that business needs to thrive.

“Families in Oldham shouldn’t lose services and support to pay for the government’s mistakes. The Cost-of-Living Emergency is placing unprecedented demand on council services. Oldham Council is investing £3million to support affected residents. We would like to do more but over the last twelve years, successive Conservative and Liberal Democrat governments have cut Oldham’s budget by 45%.”

Calling on Cllr Sheldon, to join the fight to defend Oldham, Cllr Chadderton added:

“I have asked Cllr Sheldon to put the people of Oldham before his party and add his voice to the defence of Oldham’s public services.  The Tory government that has lost control of the economy, and is now looking for the council to pay for their disastrous mini-budget.

“As an Oldham resident he can see the damage that 12 years of Tory governments have done to our town. I am urging him to add his voice to our campaign and to use his position in Conservative party to call on his friends in Government that Oldham residents can’t afford to pay for their mistakes.”