Ex-council boss denies Lords plan after Harman tweet

A council leader who stepped down after Labour lost control of her borough has "categorically denied" being offered a peerage by one of the Prime Minister's political advisers.

Screenshots of a deleted tweet appeared to show Baroness Harriet Harman, Sir Keir Starmer's Special Envoy for Women and Girls, suggesting Oldham Labour leader Arooj Shah 'for next Lords list".

The Labour group lost nine of the 12 seats it was defending in the 7 May vote, leaving the group with just 18 members.

Reform UK gained 13 councillors, propelling it from one of the smallest groups on the council to the second largest.

The Oldham Group of independents now has 10 members.

Baroness Harman appeared to have written: "Hi. Hope all good with you. For next Lords list? H."

Shah responded: "Yes."

Harman's post was deleted shortly later. Her parliamentary office did not respond to the Local Democracy Reporting Service's request for comment.

Shah said it was "absolutely not" true she had been offered a place in the House of Lords. A spokesperson said any rumours were "categorically untrue".

A Labour spokesperson said: "We are not aware of any nominations in the King's Birthday honours list and Arooj was elected unopposed as leader of the Labour Group yesterday, affirming her commitment to providing effective and constructive opposition to any incoming administration on Oldham Council."

The exchange came as Shah confirmed she would be stepping down from her leadership position next week, leaving the town's remaining political groups to form a working majority to take over the running of the council.

Negotiations are currently underway between the different factions in the council, with Labour sources indicating they are resolved to "step back" into opposition, after the town "made it clear they don't want a Labour administration".

Shah was reconfirmed as the Labour group leader on Monday.

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