Lewis Quigg, Reform's first leader in Oldham, has announced he is leaving politics altogether, citing 'immense pressure' on his family. The announcement came on October 23, a day after the Manchester Evening News revealed that Councillor Quigg, who has served Royton North since 2022, had resigned from Reform UK mid-investigation, a move confirmed by the party in an official statement.
Political career and recent developments
Coun Quigg was one of Reform's first councillors in the borough alongside Sandra Ball and Mark Wilkinson. He led the group into the 2026 local elections, where the party won 13 of the 20 seats available and secured the most votes.
Despite this success, the party was unable to gain enough support from councillors in other parties to lead Oldham council, which has been locked in a stalemate since the May elections. No party holds more than a third of the members in the council chamber.
Leadership changes and by-elections
In September, Coun Quigg was replaced by Mark Wilkinson, who has since been replaced by Coun Paul Taylor. A by-election is scheduled in Failsworth West to replace Mr Wilkinson, who left for health reasons, and another by-election is now expected following Coun Quigg's announcement.
In a public statement on his Facebook profile on October 23, Lewis Quigg said: "Following a break abroad where I have been out of contact with ongoings at home, the past 48 hours have put immense pressure on my immediate family. A line I am not allowing to be crossed.
"I have made the decision following a discussion with them to resign as a councillor completely. I intend to leave politics completely as I wish to lead a private life away from public life and politics.
"I consider my time in public office over and will not engage with anyone regarding this resignation any further."
Reform statement and by-election candidates
This came a day after the Oldham branch of Reform issued a statement on their Facebook page, which said: "The Oldham Reform Group can confirm that Councillor Lewis Quigg has resigned from the Reform Group with immediate effect.
"This decision follows a difference of perspective regarding internal policy matters."
The candidates running in the Failsworth West by-election are Chris Baddeley for Reform UK, Stephen Eric Davenport for The Conservative Party, Pete Davis for Labour and Co-Operative Party, Rob Gunn for Restore Britain, Andrew Kevin Jones for the Green Party, and Lynne Christine Thompson for the Liberal Democrats.
