Arooj Shah, the ex-leader of Oldham council, has finally said the quiet part out loud: identity politics are a toxic dumpster fire. After getting ousted from her gig in the recent local elections, Shah is now singing a different tune, claiming that all this 'woke' nonsense is tearing communities apart. Who could have possibly seen this coming? (Spoiler: everyone with a brain). The borough, now trapped in political limbo, is a case study in what happens when you prioritize grievance politics over actual governance. It's almost like pandering to every special interest group doesn't exactly build consensus. Shocker.

Shah claims that the 'far-right and far-left' are both equally terrible. Sure, Jan. While both sides have their problems, let's be real – one side is actively pushing for the dismantling of Western civilization, while the other just wants lower taxes and secure borders. But hey, both sides are equally bad, right? And let's not forget the good ol' social media lies about Labour covering up the town's grooming gang scandal. The left’s response to such allegations is often to gaslight and deflect, which only fuels the flames of distrust. It is a tale as old as time, but here it is in 2026.

Of course, Shah blames her personal woes on being a Muslim woman from a 'marginalized community.' While no one deserves to be harassed, playing the victim card doesn't exactly solve anything. Instead of whining about the 'abuse' she received, maybe she should focus on addressing the issues that actually matter to the people of Oldham. But who am I kidding? Identity politics are way more fun, right? Remember when her car got torched? Yeah, that's not ideal. And having to roll around with Home Office security sounds like a real drag. But hey, at least she gets to play the martyr card.

Oldham is apparently bucking the trend of declining town centers with some fancy £450 million 'regeneration scheme.' Good for them. And Eton College is opening up a spin-off academy. So, basically, they're gentrifying the place. Which, of course, is probably going to be blamed on 'white supremacy' or something equally ridiculous. Shah claims that 'economic justice and community cohesion are inseparable.' Okay, boomer. The real issue is that people are tired of being lectured about their 'privilege' while their towns are falling apart. It's no wonder Reform UK and the pro-Gaza independents are gaining traction. People are sick of the same old song and dance. And remember the meeting coming up on June 15th. It is the meeting to save the city, or at least decide its fate.