STORY
Oldham Council could face additional costs if councillors are unable to resolve a political stalemate over who should run the authority following the 2026 local elections.
Local democracy reporting has suggested that previous cases involving divided councils point to potential legal costs and commissioner fees if a deadlock cannot be broken. The situation in Oldham follows Labour losing eight seats, with Reform UK becoming the second largest group, two councillors behind Labour on 16 seats.
The dispute has placed the council’s governance arrangements under pressure at the start of the municipal year. The issue is likely to increase scrutiny of whether parties can reach a working agreement or whether the authority risks a more prolonged period of instability.