Oldham Labour MP borrows BNP tactics

David Heyes, a Labour MP for part of Oldham, has attempted to discredit a local community group's campaign against the demolition of Victorian terraced housing by using the same tactics that he once condemned the BNP for using in the area.

Under the Housing Market Renewal scheme, there are plans to demolish 8,600 homes in Oldham and Rochdale, in order to replace them with what the council describes as “aspirational urban housing and apartments” to facilitate the gentrification of the area. (More information about the scheme can be found at www.fightforourhomes.com)

Local community activists joined together to form the Failsworth and Hollinwood Action Group (FHAG) and distributed leaflets highlighting the facts behind the scheme. David Heyes, the local MP, responded by sending a letter to local residents attacking the group.

“The letter contains some outrageous false accusations,” said Paul Lockett from FHAG, “for instance, Mr Heyes accuses us of being connected to extremist political parties. We are a completely non-party political organisation and the only political support we have received is a letter in the local press from the area's Green Party organiser, backing our campaign.

“What I find most disgusting is the way Mr Heyes' attempts to exploit the idea that Failsworth loses out to other parts of Oldham, by saying “We have suffered from a lack of public investment for far too long. In sharp contrast, nearby areas such as East Manchester and parts of Oldham have been transformed as £multi-million regeneration monies have poured in year after year.”

In its response to the Ritchie report, produced following the 2001 disturbances, Oldham Council stated, "successful attempts to secure funding for an initiative in the Borough, often geographically ring-fenced, has had the capacity to create jealousy and suspicion elsewhere. This latent jealousy and suspicion has been exploited by political extremists before, during and after the events of May 2001 and is a barrier to Oldham achieving community cohesion." ( http://www.oldham.gov.uk/finalresponse.pdf page 7)

Paul Lockett commented, “David Heyes' hypocrisy is astounding. On the “Stop the BNP” website, which is run by Searchlight magazine, he is credited with running an election campaign against the BNP, who tried to portray Failsworth as the forgotten part of Oldham that loses out to Asian areas. ( http://tinyurl.com/97ghe) Now he has shown that he is prepared to use exactly the same tactics as the BNP when it is politically expedient.

“Mr Heyes may believe that he can gain support by using divisive tactics, but I can assure people that FHAG won't be following suit. We will continue to work with people from all areas of Oldham in order to fight the injustice of Housing Market Renewal.

Paul Lockett sent a question to Oldham Council, asking if they would join him in denouncing David Heyes comments. In a departure from the council's usual practice, they refused to answer the question at the meeting, as the person asking the question was not present in person. ( http://tinyurl.com/7q2sx) They subsequently issued a response in writing, which made no mention of David Heyes or his comments.

A letter was sent to David Heyes on 17 November 2005, asking him to explain the basis for the allegations in his letter. As of 17 February 2006, no response had been received.