The news that Reform’s new leader in Oldham has resigned just days after he was elected has come ‘as a bit of a shock’ to the borough.
On September 24, councillor Mark Wilkinson said he would be stepping down as both leader of the borough’s 16-strong Reform UK group, as well as an elected member for Failsworth, for health reasons. This is just days after he was elected replacing Lewis Quigg.
Leadership change and criticism
According to Coun Wilkinson, Coun Quigg made the decision to resign as leader on September 6 telling him the role had become ‘time-consuming and all consuming’. However Coun Quigg dismissed claims he was no longer leader as nonsense in the days after.
On September 14, it was announced Coun Wilkinson would be leading the group going forward, with St James councillor Gary Tarbuck as his deputy. This leadership change and a decision by most Reform councillors to endorse a temporary way of running Oldham council on September 16 has led to significant criticism on social media. Reform will now oversee children’s services as part of the arrangement which will see different parties scrutinise council departments.
The borough has been without a leader since the local elections in May where Reform won a majority of the seats up for grabs but were not able to secure a majority of support in the council chamber. This has led to fears government officials could be appointed to make decisions as the council is acting unlawfully, with costs potentially in the millions.
Wilkinson's response and resignation
In response on September 23, Coun Wilkinson said: “Constructive criticism is always welcome, but personal and demeaning attacks, unwarranted and unjustified, says more about those conveying their venom, than those in the line of fire. I want to state categorically that these claims are entirely untrue.”
Defending the decision, Coun Wilkinson added: “It was clear that this was not an option any of the parties wanted. [Government] intervention would have been the worst possible outcome for Oldham and its residents, not only in terms of the huge financial costs, but all power and decision making would be handed over to them.
“In an effort to show commissioners we were all prepared collectively, to compromise, we were offered the opportunity via an interim governance mitigation report, to keep services operating by forming committees for various departments. It is important to understand, that even with this arrangement in place, Oldham still has no party with overall control.”
He added: “There were no deals, no brown envelopes, no secret meetings and no signing of any agreements, which would have put Reform in a dubious position.” The Manchester Evening News understands Reform’s position was fully supported by the national party.
However a day later, Coun Wilkinson said he had been diagnosed with an abdominal aortic aneurysm and atrial fibrillation following a visit to Royal Oldham Hospital and would be resigning as both leader and councillor.
He said: “Coming so soon after having a kidney removed in March, this has inevitably made me take a serious look at my health and my future. I have been advised by medical professionals to take things easy and get plenty of rest.”
Coun Wilkinson added: “This has not been an easy decision. Serving the people of Failsworth and representing them as a councillor has been a privilege, and I am extremely grateful to everyone who has supported me during my time in public service. However, my health has to come first.”
Reactions and next steps
In response, a post on the Oldham Reform page said: “Thank you for all your hard work, dedication and service. Most importantly, wishing you good health, strength and happiness for the future. Take care and look after yourself.”
Chadderton Reform councillor Jon Ford said the months of council deadlock had been ‘extremely stressful’ and ‘not been plain sailing,’ telling the Manchester Evening News the news ‘was a bit of a shock and upsetting’.
He said: “He is very well respected and upstanding, respected across Failsworth, across Oldham, and across the chamber. He has had a long career in the police.
“He has that authority and is very eloquent. He was still fighting for his residents despite having a major operation in March. It is sad that he has had further complications and we wish him well.”
The Manchester Evening News understands Coun Wilkinson has not yet formally resigned from his position as councillor meaning the process for any future by-election in Failsworth has not started yet. Coun Gary Tarbuck, the group’s deputy leader, was also approached for comment.
However the leadership change could throw a spanner into the temporary arrangement that has just been put in place to run Oldham. Council sources previously told the Manchester Evening News they saw Coun Wilkinson as a reasonable figure that they could work with despite political disagreements.
Following the news Coun Wilkinson was stepping down, Oldham Group leader Coun Kamran Ghafoor said: “The deal is still on and we are going to try our best to make it work for the people of Oldham.
“I think Reform are sensible enough to realise that is what is best for Oldham. If they do not think that is best for Oldham, they have to be very careful.”
Liberal Democrat boss Coun Sam Al-Hamdani said Wilkinson was someone they ‘were able to get work done’ and ‘made it possible for things to happen’.
He said: “We have worked really hard to make sure that we represented everybody’s votes but also something where the council can deliver services. Anything that moves us away from that is a bad thing. We will wait to see.”
He also said his party’s door would be open for whoever is the next leader and criticised what he said had been abusive attacks on Reform’s councillors in recent days.
