Vote of no confidence in council leader

Councillor Allen Brett

The pressure on Labour/council leader Councillor Allen Brett has intensified following an overwhelming vote of no confidence in him by Heywood and Middleton Constituency Labour Party (CLP) members.

It is understood the vote was 32-1 at a recent meeting of the CLP.

The vote follows the news that the council leader's conduct is being investigated by an 'Independent Investigating Officer' after Rochdale Online revealed a recording of the Labour leader threatening to deprive Milnrow and Newhey of council money for road repairs if Labour did not retain the seat at the recent local election.

http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/118760/council-leaders-conduct-to-be-investigated-by-independent-investigating-officer

Exacerbating the situation, Councillor Brett lied about making the threat until it was revealed he had been recorded making it.

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

Despite the members' vote of no confidence, Councillor Brett retains the support of the majority of Labour councillors who recently re-elected him as leader.

http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/118588/councillor-allen-brett-reelected-as-labour-council-leader

The secretary of Heywood and Middleton CLP did not respond to an invitation to comment.

Councillor Allen Brett did not respond to an invitation to comment.