The deputy mayor of Oldham said the national wins for Labour in the local elections are a good thing for the country as a whole rather than the party.
Dr Zahid Chauhan OBE, Labour councillor for Alexandra, thinks the Labour gains are a direct result of austerity and the cost of living crisis.
He said: “People are worried about their electricity and gas bills.
“It’s not going well for the Labour Party – I think it’s going well for the nation.
“What the public have done, they’re sending a clear message saying these austerity measures … are not bearable anymore. This is a message from humanity to our policymakers.
“The Labour Party believes in devolution and power to the locals. That’s only going to happen from the national level.”
He also blamed a lack of central government funding for why parts of the area are struggling.
“You need to look at: what is the reason why Shaw is forgotten? Are other parts of Oldham, are many other deprived parts of the country forgotten? This is because funding has completely dried out.”
“National funding to the local authorities is not there. We’re struggling to provide basic services because we don’t have the money.”
