Nazia Rahman has been confirmed as Wigan Council’s new Executive Leader, the most powerful role in our local government. Confirmed by her fellow Labour members, who currently constitute 42 of the borough’s 75 elected councillors, Rahman became the first woman, the first ethnic minority representative, and the first foreign-born leader of the council. But what kind of leader will Rahman make?
On the most basic level, it cannot be denied that she is a committed councillor who understands the idea of duty. She attends 94% of full council and committee meetings, which may not seem like the most ringing endorsement. But given that other Labour councillors such as Matthew Dawber (Douglas ward, 13% at the time of writing) and Sheila Ramsdale (Wigan West ward, 18% at the time of writing) barely attend, it is a good start. At the full Wigan Council meeting of May 2026, she said that she was “genuinely humbled, honoured and privileged” and pledged: “I will give my one hundred per cent to this role.”
But beyond that, we expect a year of more of the same, namely unjustifiable council tax rises. In the 2026/27 financial year, Wigan Council increased council tax by 4.99%. Why 4.99%? Because a 5% rise would trigger a public referendum to authorise the increase, one that Wiganers would almost certainly reject. While we have sympathy with the challenges that local councils face in relation to schools and social care, both for children and the elderly, there is a significant degree of largesse in terms of council pay that hints at a lack of political will to make serious efficiency savings.
Indeed, over the past five years, council tax has risen by over 20%, yet there seems little pay restraint at the top. The salary of the council’s Chief Executive, Alison McKenzie-Folan, is £205,178 per year, more than that of the UK Prime Minister. Another 21 Wigan Council officials are paid in excess of £100,000 per annum. The Wiganist is unconvinced that such generous remuneration is leading to improvements in local governance, something Rahman should be mindful of but is unlikely to address. Cost of living crisis or not, we can all brace ourselves for another 4.99% increase next financial year without seeing any noticeable improvement in council services.
Given that Rahman has not set out a clear vision for her tenure as Executive Leader, The Wiganist has some thoughts of its own to offer her, and Labour, a chance of stopping Reform from taking majority control of the council at the next set of local elections.
- First, she should commit to no council tax rises in 2027/28 to support local residents during the cost of living crisis.
- Second, she should conduct a review and restructuring of executive pay to ensure value for money for Wiganers. There is no justification for the Chief Executive of Wigan Council, who oversees a population of 340,000, being paid more than the Prime Minister, who oversees one of 69 million.
- Third, following in the footsteps of pioneering councils across the country, she should immediately end all spending on areas not mandated by law. Over the past five years, council tax has risen by over 20%. The people of Wigan should not be footing the bill for vanity projects.
- Fourth, to help small businesses in Wigan, she should lobby the Labour government to reverse Rachel Reeves’ damaging increase in employer National Insurance contributions and cut business rates. Give small businesses a chance to make ends meet: it will boost employment in the area.
- Finally, any house in multiple occupation (HMO) that breaches the terms of its licence must be prevented from having that licence renewed. The council must act as a check on rogue landlords.
That is a policy agenda to put the people and businesses of Wigan first, and one that may just help Nazia and her Labour colleagues save their seats. Alas, it is unlikely that she will heed our advice.