Councillor Allen Brett re-elected as Labour/Council Leader

Councillor Allen Brett

Councillor Allen Brett has been re-elected as the Leader of the local Labour Party and hence the Leader of Rochdale Borough Council.

A vote at the Labour group AGM on Sunday morning (6 May) gave Councillor Brett a comfortable victory, 29 -16, over Councillor Jacqui Beswick.

Councillor Brett took over as Labour/Council Leader in December 2017 following Councillor Richard Farnell stepping down under pressure after his controversial evidence to the The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA).

Councillor Farnell was subsequently suspended from the Labour Party following publication of the IICSA’s report which branded him a liar.

Controversy has also followed for Councillor Brett; in April, Rochdale Online published a recording taken at a Labour group meeting in which Councillor Brett threatened to deprive Milnrow and Newhey of council money if Labour did not retain the seat at last week's local election.

https://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/118035/council-leader-accused-of-breaking-the-%E2%80%98code-of-conduct-for-councillors%E2%80%99

Councillor Brett said: "I am happy to continue in my role with the same cabinet but changes elsewhere. We have a fantastic team all working together for the good of all parts of the Borough. 

"One immediate task is to see that the two RBS buildings in the borough are put to some other use ASAP and not allowed to remain empty. 

"The £12 million for roads and footpaths is in the public domain and the townships will make the decisions shortly."