Social media posts alleging a political cover-up of child grooming have cast a long shadow over Oldham in recent years, enabling the rise of a new independent political group and contributing to the dethroning of two council leaders in successive years.
And a week after the release of a damning report into child sexual exploitation in the Greater Manchester borough, local anger is showing no sign of abating. Protesters heckled and booed Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham at a fiery public meeting last night and Amanda Chadderton, who recently took over as leader, was met with furious calls to resign.
During the meeting council and police speakers were shouted down and booed by the public gallery as around 100 people were allowed into the main chamber at the Civic Centre, with many holding up paper signs reading 'Cover Up' and some turning their backs on proceedings.
