Police turn up at Oldham Council after explosive argument in chambers and ‘Nazi’ insults
Police were called to an Oldham Council meeting after a heated argument involving councillors and the public, leading to adjournment and physical altercations. The dispute centered around the 'Places for Everyone' housing scheme, with insults like 'Nazi sympathisers' being thrown. A Conservative councillor quit his party during the conflict, and the meeting was ultimately suspended.
Police officers rushed to Oldham Council chambers Tuesday night after a shouting match over the controversial Places for Everyone housing plan spiralled into name-calling, shoving and claims of “dictators” and “Nazi sympathisers.”
Mayor Zahid Chauhan gaveled the meeting into an emergency adjournment when members of the public and councillors began trading abuse across the chamber, forcing the acting borough solicitor to retreat. As a riot van and patrol cars pulled up outside, tensions spilled into the corridors where Conservative deputy Lewis Quigg squared up to his leader Graham Sheldon.
“I quit this party. You no longer have any say over me,” Quigg shouted before pushing Sheldon, who had stepped toward him. Fellow Conservatives quickly separated the pair as officers took statements and party groups retreated to private rooms for 105 minutes.
When councillors returned, the chair demanded apologies for the “aggressive behaviour.” Quigg refused, prompting a second suspension. Council leader Arooj Shah told the chamber: “Shame on all of us for allowing this behaviour to continue and grow and stand here to proclaim we represent the people of the borough and their best interest when we conduct ourselves like this.”
Greater Manchester Police have been asked whether the riot-van deployment was linked to the chamber uproar or to a concurrent protest outside the building.
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