Oldham has not benefited from Brown's first year as Prime Minister

6.18.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 26th Jun 2008

Oldham Borough has not benefited from Gordon Brown's leadership, claim local Liberal Democrats.

Labour MPs unanimously made Mr Brown party leader last year and on 27th June, they will celebrate his first anniversary as Prime Minister.

But local Liberal Democrats are unhappy about Mr Brown's leadership and have argued strongly that the Oldham area has failed to benefit from his year as Prime Minister.

Elwyn Watkins, Parliamentary Spokesperson for Oldham East & Saddleworth, said, "Gordon Brown has been in office for a year and I am still looking for any significant improvements around here.

"Police cuts and crime levels continue to be a serious issue in Oldham Borough but Brown's government has done nothing to tackle the crime and antisocial behaviour that still blights many local people's lives."

"And local MP Phil Woolas, a friend of Gordon Brown and government minister, seems to care more for following the party line than caring for his own constituents - most recently voting for measures which will see eight Post Office closures in his constituency alone, leaving many people in East Oldham, Shaw and Crompton and large areas of Saddleworth without a local Post Office.

"Instead of the strong leadership claims Labour spun last year, we have endured months of dithering, indecision and a chaotic government under Prime Minister Brown. He seems more like a rabbit frozen in the headlights rather than a person giving leadership to the country.

"Thousands of local residents on low incomes continue to be worse off under Gordon Brown's 10p tax grab, despite the panic concessions last month.

"Thousands are being forced to pay more council tax and many local residents are forced to live in overcrowded conditions because of the credit crunch and the failure of Labour to build sufficient affordable homes.

"As I go around the Oldham area speaking to residents, I find more and more anger as matters get worse under Gordon Brown rather than better."

Related Link:

Map of post office closures in the Greater Manchester and High Peak Area.