THE ASIAN INDEPENDENT UK
Bal Ram Sampla
Geopolitics
Mohammed Imran Ali, known locally as “Irish Imy,” is a figure whose life story is one of crime, controversy, and a claimed reinvention. Born in Dublin in 1980 and raised in the Werneth area of south-west Oldham, he has become one of the most talked-about and divisive personalities in local politics. His journey from convicted criminal to aspiring independent councillor raises important questions about rehabilitation, accountability, and the integrity of local government.
A Criminal Past
Ali’s background is marked by serious criminal offences. He has served prison time for assault, trafficking heroin, and acting as the getaway driver for Dale Cregan — one of Britain’s most notorious killers, who shot three people and destroyed their bodies with grenades in 2012.
Ali was convicted in 2013 and released early from prison in 2016. His conviction is now considered “spent” under UK law. He does not deny his past, stating openly: “My past is in plain sight. They are not my proudest moments.” Despite this acknowledgement, his criminal history has remained a source of controversy in Oldham’s political and community circles.
Political Ambitions and Community Work
In recent years, Ali has repositioned himself as a community figure. He has worked as a homelessness volunteer, runs a boxing gym, and operates as a local businessman. He stood as an independent candidate in the Werneth ward, running a campaign titled “Make Werneth Great Again,” directly challenging long-serving Labour councillor Fida Hussain.
His stated reasons for entering politics include a desire to tackle deprivation in Werneth, break up what he describes as a “little boys’ club” that has run Oldham the same way for twenty years, and use his personal experience with the justice system to help others who face similar barriers to opportunity.
His Connection to the Labour Party
Although Ali stood as an independent candidate rather than a Labour member, his ties to the party ran deep. He is a lifelong friend of Arooj Shah — Labour’s leader of Oldham Council — having known her since the age of eleven. Despite his criminal record, Ali was regularly seen canvassing alongside Shah for Labour, and was even appointed as her Special Political Adviser (SPAD) after she became council leader.
The decision to allow someone with Ali’s background into Labour’s inner circle was never formally explained or publicly scrutinised at the time. Shah justified the relationship on the grounds of personal loyalty and a belief in rehabilitation, saying she could not “turn her back on people she had known since childhood.”
Controversy and Political Fallout
Ali’s closeness to the council leadership sparked significant backlash. Community activists raised formal complaints about his presence in local politics, particularly after he set up a vigilante street patrol group in Oldham. Critics questioned how a convicted heroin trafficker and getaway driver for a murderer could operate so closely with elected officials.
More seriously, allegations emerged — denied by those involved — that Shah used her position to assist in Ali’s early release from prison. The controversy ultimately had political consequences: a local community campaigner stood against Shah in her own ward and defeated her by 96 votes in 2022, costing her the council leadership.
Conclusion
Mohammed Imran Ali represents someone who has turned his life around and wants to use that experience to serve his community. To his critics, he is an example of how personal loyalty and lack of scrutiny within local politics can allow individuals with serious criminal backgrounds to gain inappropriate influence over public institutions.
His story raises broader questions about what ‘rehabilitation really means in practice, and whether local government has a responsibility to apply higher standards of transparency’ when allowing individuals with criminal histories into positions of political influence.
References
1.https://spectator.com/article/criminal-candidates-grooming-gangs-and-petrol-bombings-welcome-to-oldham/
2.https://www.notreallyheremedia.com/news/oldham-reporter/interview-with-mohammed-imran-ali/
3.https://www.theoldhamtimes.co.uk/news/25757311.dale-cregan-getaway-driver-seeks-election-werneth-councillor/
4.https://neilwilby.com/2024/03/11/council-leaders-spad-to-face-criminal-trial/
5.https://neilwilby.com/2023/03/29/oldhams-biggest-public-nuisance-to-stand-as-election-candidate-for-the-rabble/comment-page-1/
6.https://www.recusant-nine.com/recusant-nine/welcome2oldhampart3
