A REPORT which says that efforts to regenerate Oldham are a waste of time and that residents would be better off moving to the South has been described as insulting and patronising.

The report, by right-wing think tank the Policy Exchange, which has links to the Conservative Party, said towns like Oldham would never prosper.

Government Minister and local MP Phil Woolas believes the report reveals "London-based Tories" have a patronising view of the North.

He said: "The findings of this report are unbelievable as well as being utterly wrong. They are also insulting and show what London-based Tories really think of the North. They seem to think we all live in terraced houses and breed whippets. The laissez-faire politics of the 80s ripped the guts out of Oldham and it has taken 10 years to put it right."

Labour’s shadow cabinet member Cllr Dave Hibbett was scathing about the report and also thought it reflected badly on the Conservative Party.

He said: "We are told we should all pack it in and move down to Cambridge and Oxford. I am sure that the residents of those two tolerant cities would welcome us, and our accommodation, schooling and health provision requirements, with open arms.

"We recognise that times have changed and that Oldham must adapt and plan for the future. Significant progress has been made over the last five years. New education facilities, comprising modern schools, the expansion of the sixth form college and the creation of University Oldham have been provided; employment opportunities in new technology industries are now available; and residential areas have improved significantly. Transport systems are about to be modernised with the extension of the Metrolink network to Oldham. We intend to ensure that Oldham will benefit from Manchester’s booming economy and that our people will have a meaningful role to play in it."