A candidate for the Conservatives in the recent local elections has sunk to an all-time low, by inferring those councillors who serve as the Mayor of Oldham are “parasites” for “just putting a faux fur coat on and parading around in chains”.
Councillor Diane Williamson, recently re-elected Liberal Democrat councillor for Crompton, said: “I am absolutely appalled at these comments that Mr Lewis Quigg made on his Facebook Page, considering the Leader of the Conservative Group on Oldham Council seconded the nomination for the new Mayor of Oldham, Councillor Jenny Harrison on Wednesday 19 May 2021 and that the former Leader of the Conservative Group, Councillor John Hudson OBE, served as Mayor of Oldham for the municipal year 2013-14.”
Councillor Williamson is well-aware of the honour that serving Oldham Borough as Mayor represents, and the invaluable work that the Mayor carries out as First Citizen and in raising much needed funds for many worthy local charities.
“I have seen on the Mayor of Oldham’s Facebook Page comments from people/organisations/charities who have been visited by a Mayor which say that a visit from them can make a huge difference to their fundraising, profile and visitors; as well as knowing that the press will turn up and publicise their charity/organisation/business. Mr Quigg believes this is the Mayor being ‘paraded around like a prize pig in the mayoral car’ in a ‘rotten borough’.
Councillor Williamson also takes exception to Mr Quigg’s assertion that it is “hypocrisy of the highest order when the same councillors complain about hungry children”.
“I am proud that the Liberal Democrats have repeatedly raised the issue of child poverty in Council, I am only sad that this is continues to be an issue in our borough. The lion’s share of blame for this shameful situation lies with the Conservative Government, and we will make no apology for continuing our fight to ensure that no child in our borough goes hungry.”