Responding to the resignation of Conservative Councillor Sahr Abid, Deputy Liberal Democrat Leader Chris Gloster said: “Being a councillor takes a lot of commitment, and is hard to balance with work and other commitments.  Several of our councillors have jobs and other commitments, and we take extra effort to ensure that they get the support needed to manage that balance.  This resignation demonstrates the time and effort that is needed for councillors to support their community well.”

“My colleagues would like to wish Sahr Abid well.  We are, and will continue to be, the real opposition on Oldham Council,” he added.

“There have also been reports that Councillor Abid’s resignation letter cited the Conservative Party’s policies impact on the cost of living crisis.  If that is the case I can certainly understand why a councillor would find it impossible to reconcile representing Oldham’s residents – among the hardest hit by this crisis – with being a member of a party which is doing so little to help those hit hardest from rising fuel costs and the extortionate rise in the cost of living,” commented Cllr Gloster.