The battle for Stockport Town Hall has ramped up another notch with Lib Dem chief Mark Hunter confirming he will stand against Labour’s Coun Elise Wilson at a crunch meeting later this week. The Lib Dems, already the largest group on the council, emerged from the local elections with three more councillors than Labour, who have run the town hall since 2016.
Although not enough to give the Lib Dems a majority on the 63-seat council, it increases their number to 28 while Labour remain static on 25.. Now Coun Hunter has written to councillors of all parties ‘accepting that mandate’ and declaring his group is ‘ready to step up’ and take on responsibility for the council.
It comes hot on the heels of Coun Wilson’s pitch last week, who argued for ‘continuity and the stable running of Stockport’ in a bid to retain the top job and keep Labour at the helm. But, with the ‘political’ element of the annual council meeting scheduled for Thursday night, Coun Hunter has made his case for the Lib Dems’ taking the reins for the first time since 2016.
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In a letter to all members, he writes: “In the May elections, residents across Stockport gave the Liberal Democrats a clear majority of their votes and the largest number of seats. Accepting that mandate, I have shared with other leaders a proposal for working together more closely as five different political groups in a council with no overall majority.
“I believe the current time calls for a leadership that listens, truly puts Stockport first, that offers every group a seat at the table and gives all parties a clear voice in the running of our borough. That is my promise to you as prospective leader.”
Coun Hunter notes that ‘some of the toughest of times’ lie ahead as the borough continues to recover from the pandemic. But he also looks forward to the regeneration of the town and district centres, progressing the Local Plan and the ‘exciting new partnership with the health sector’ [Integrated Care Systems are replacing CCGs].
“We need confident and capable leadership that is keen to work with all parties to deliver to the needs and ambitions of the people of our great borough,” adds Coun Hunter.
Outlining his priorities for the coming year, he says his group will press for more urgent action on climate change, support businesses across the borough and protect frontline services. "In leading the council, the Liberal Democrats would seek to build on these measures with cross-party agreement - wherever possible - while strengthening the direction of travel,” continues Coun Hunter.
“I believe it is essential that our Council takes a strong lead to help and support residents, businesses and especially the disadvantaged under a cross-party consensus. I lead a skilled and dedicated team with a strong mix of experience and new ideas who are ready to step up and take on the responsibility we now face as a council.”
Whether this will be enough to garner the support of the Conservative group - reduced to just five councillors after the local elections - remains a moot point. The Tories supported Labour last year despite the Lib Dems being the larger group last year, accepting Coun Wilson’s plea for ‘continuity’ - a platform she is standing on again this year.
In a recent statement Conservative leader Coun Mike Hurleston committed to ‘engage with all political groups in good faith’ but gave few clues as to who his group would ultimately back. Whether the Heald Green Ratepayers and the Greens - who have five councillors between them - will stay neutral or swing behind either Labour or the Lib Dems also remains to be seen.
A heated annual council meeting would seem to be in store on Thursday, with some Lib Dems already venting their frustration at Coun Wilson’s decision to stand. Coun Will Dawson Tweeted: “I wonder what the Labour reasoning will be for hanging on next year, despite losing another election? Proximity to the 2023 Rugby World Cup?”
Meanwhile former deputy leader Iain Roberts, who stood down at the elections, said it was ‘utterly absurd’ and ‘anti-democratic for Labour to rule alone against the voters' wishes’. But Labour councillors and activists have hit back, pointing out the Lib Dems do not have a majority - which requires a minimum of 32 seats - and that it now comes down to who can marshall the support of the smaller opposition groups.
Stockport council’s annual council meeting will ‘reconvene’ for political decisions on Thursday night (May 19). The mayor-making part of the meeting will take place on Tuesday afternoon (May 17).
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