Leader to stand down from crisis hit council

Wirral Council leader Cllr Paul Stuart
-Credit:Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo


Wirral Council's leader is set to step down from his position, the ECHO can reveal. Cllr Paul Stuart, a Labour councillor for the Seacombe ward, has told his party colleagues that he will not be seeking re-election as the leader of the crisis-hit council at the council's Annual General Meeting in May.

The leader is reported to have confirmed his decision at a 'sombre' Labour group meeting on February 3 at Wallasey Town Hall. Explaining that he will stand down as leader in May, he was met with some applause from supportive colleagues, while others were accepting this was the right decision.

He has now confirmed the news in a statement to the ECHO, stating: "Being council leader of the place I call home is the greatest honour anyone could be given, and I have led the council with integrity during unprecedented financial circumstances. I have decided not to stand for leadership of the group or the council in May. This is the right decision for me.

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"I have clarified my position to my group so that, as a Labour Group, we can elect a new group leader ahead of the council AGM. However, I will continue to represent the residents of Seacombe, where I live."

The news comes as the local authority finds itself on the brink of financial collapse and likely to face falling into effective bankruptcy if a requested £40m bailout from the government does not materialise. The recent troubles have piled pressure on Cllr Stuart who leads a fragile council that is in no overall political control. He faced calls to resign at a tense extraordinary finance meeting in January.

Much of that pressure has come from within his own Labour ranks. Last month, the ECHO reported that a rebellion was mounting against the leader from the Labour group, with potentially enough elected councillors willing to move against him to trigger a leadership challenge.

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A confidential letter - seen by the ECHO - was reportedly being circulated among some in the Labour group, urging the party to take action. It stated: "Serious failings in leadership have brought the borough to the brink of financial disaster. Reports of lack of governance, accountability, and critical mismanagement paint a stark picture of a council unable to meet its obligations to residents."

The letter added: "This looming financial crisis demands decisive and experienced leadership that can take control, restore stability, and prevent irreversible damage to the borough's future. It is now evident that the current leader and deputy leader lack the experience and capability to provide this level of leadership."

In a response to that letter, sent to the ECHO on January 23, Cllr Stuart said that he would "give consideration to and reflect on" his position as Labour group leader and leader of the council in the days that followed. That consideration has now led to his decision to step down.

He will, however, remain in post for a hugely important council budget meeting, which is set to take place on March 3, with the prospect of budget cuts of up to £25m and that all important government bailout request looming large.

Despite criticisms from within his own party and calls by Green councillors to resign, Cllr Stuart has been praised by Conservatives and Liberal Democrats. The Local Government Association also said recently it was clear Cllr Stuart and Chief Executive Paul Satoor “are seen as an effective team who work well together” with Cllr Stuart being visible in his role as leader making “personal and political attempts” to work cross party.

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Cllr Stuart rose to become leader of the Wirral Labour group and the council after a dramatic coup against previous leader Janette Williamson. Cllr Stuart had been Cllr WIlliamson's deputy before he successfully challenged her and took over her position in May 2023.

Labour is currently the largest political party within Wirral Council with 29 councillors though this is short of a majority. This means any bid to become council leader will need support of at least two parties though any future leader is expected to be Labour. Names currently being discussed as a potential new leader include Rock Ferry councillor Paula Basnett and Claughton councillor Gill Wood.

Cllr Stuart's full statement reads: "My focus over the coming months is delivering for the people of Wirral as council leader, ensuring we set a legal budget that protects our most vulnerable and is ambitious about Wirral's future.

"Wirral Council has borne a disproportionate share of spending cuts after 14 years of consecutive Conservative Governments; this has had widespread and profound consequences on the council's spending powers and has meant we've had to make decisions no one wants to have to make. Wirral Council's financial fragility sits squarely with the Conservatives, who have cut Wirral's budget by a quarter since 2010.

"Being council leader of the place I call home is the greatest honour anyone could be given, and I have led the council with integrity during unprecedented financial circumstances. I have decided not to stand for leadership of the group or the council in May. This is the right decision for me.

"I have clarified my position to my group so that, as a Labour Group, we can elect a new group leader ahead of the council AGM. However, I will continue to represent the residents of Seacombe, where I live."