Tributes were last night paid to popular former councillor Arooj Shah who lost her seat in the recent local elections.
Shah made history in Oldham, becoming its first-ever female Asian Cabinet member and just months ago went head-to-head with Jean Stretton to become the borough’s first female council leader.
Councillor Riaz Ahmad claimed that Ms Shah had endured forms of harassment during her recent election campaign in St Mary’s, in which she lost her seat to independent Aftab Hussain.
He said: "Arooj, although she was only here for one term, she made a huge impact on the council and she made a huge impact, not just locally but, regionally and nationally. She has many qualities. For her to get elected in the first place was a tremendous achievement on its own. For a female to get elected in a place like Glodwick was a huge achievement and a major step forward, she did that and won many hearts.
"She’s brave, she doesn’t shy away from challenges. She has behaved with great dignity lately and all the time and never compromised her principles. What impressed me about Arooj the most was how she’s behaved with integrity in the last few weeks and months. With all the rubbish that has been thrown at her over the last few weeks."
