Arooj Shah, the former leader of Oldham Council, has warned that “identity politics is tearing communities apart” as the town marks the 25th anniversary of race riots in northern England. Shah stepped down earlier this month after local elections left the council with no overall control, and she now fears that fragmentation of the vote could lead to political deadlock elsewhere in the country.
Shah said that unsubstantiated “social media lies” about Labour covering up the grooming gang scandal had poisoned town hall politics and intensified racist and misogynistic abuse she received. A safeguarding review found no evidence of a 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,” she added.
Since the 2001 riots, community cohesion projects had maintained peace on the streets, but Shah said extremist groups on both the far right and far left were now stoking division. She accused Reform UK and the Oldham Group of independents of “weaponising” migration and Gaza respectively.
Shah, who requires Home Office security due to threats, said she cannot go shopping without protection. Her car was torched in 2021 and a man was reported for threatening to kill her last year. Despite Oldham’s £450m regeneration and being named most improved council, political stalemate persists, with a crunch meeting scheduled for 15 June.
