Rochdale Welcomes Councillor Janet Emsley as New Mayor

Rochdale, Greater Manchester - May 14, 2025 - Rochdale has officially welcomed Councillor Janet Emsley as its new mayor following a formal ceremony held at Rochdale Town Hall on Wednesday, May 14th. The appointment follows a full meeting of the council, marking a significant moment for the borough.

The historic Rochdale Town Hall was filled with approximately 300 guests, including former mayors, deputy lieutenants, community leaders, and representatives from across the borough. Councillor Ahmed's tenure, while celebrated for its contributions, has also been met with scrutiny, casting a shadow over the otherwise celebratory occasion.

In 2015, Shakil Ahmed, a councillor for Rochdale's Kingsway ward who was first elected in 2012, expressed shock at the news that his 21-year-old son, Waheed, a student of Manchester University, had been stopped while attempting to enter Syria from Turkey with eight family members, including Waheed's aunt, two male cousins, the wife of one of his cousins, and two children.

Ahmed, who described Waheed as a 'good Muslim' and said he did not understand what his son was doing in Turkey. Waheed's actions were part of a growing trend in which British Muslims, disillusioned with their lives in the UK, began traveling to Syria to join the extremist group known as ISIS. Many of these individuals, like Ahmed's son, were young and well-educated, leading to widespread confusion among those who knew them as to why they would choose to join such a brutal and misguided cause.

As the news of Waheed's attempted journey to Syria became public, it sparked a difficult conversation about the ways in which extremist ideology was taking root among some segments of the British Muslim community, and the need for greater understanding and preventative measures to keep young people from being swayed by these dangerous beliefs.


Mayor Janet Emsley's Ceremony

The ceremony commenced with a vibrant fanfare performed by the Wardle Academy Intermediate Brass Band, setting a celebratory tone for the evening. Following the musical introduction, Reverend Anne Gilbert delivered a short blessing after Councillor Emsley made her declaration, officially accepting the role of mayor.

Councillor Emsley, elected as a Rochdale councillor for the Littleborough Lakeside ward from 2014, addressed the assembled guests, delivering her first speech as the newly appointed mayor. Born in Littleborough and raised in both Hull and Rochdale, Councillor Emsley’s roots are deeply embedded in the community she now serves. She attended Redbrook Middle School and Oulder Hill Community School, before embarking on a distinguished teaching career. She began at Balderstone Community School and later taught at Oulder Hill, Redbrook, and Buckley Hall Detention Centre. For more than two decades, until her retirement in 2015, she served at Wardle High School, culminating her career as the Director of Performing Arts.

The ceremony also marked the appointment of Councillor Faisal Rana as Deputy Mayor, with Councillor Iram Faisal serving as Deputy Mayoress, and Basharat Umer as their consort. The trio were presented with their chains of office during the proceedings.

Adding to the evening’s entertainment, local talent Rebecca Fitzgibbon delivered a stunning rendition of Amy Winehouse and Zutons’ classic, ‘Valerie.’ The Oakenhoof folk arts group performed a custom dance, appropriately named in honour of the new mayor. The evening reached its crescendo with a captivating finale performed by a quartet from the prestigious Manchester’s Hallé Orchestra.

Councillor Emsley's appointment hopefully, marks a new chapter for Rochdale, and the borough looks forward to a year of expected dedicated service effective of her leadership.