Councillors' Hobhouse - jumped or pushed?

Councillor Wera Hobhouse

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Councillors William and Wera Hobhouse are 'stepping down' from their council cabinet roles – a move which opposition parties say is a “jump before being pushed”.

Lib Dem Councillor Wera Hobhouse is stepping down from her three-year position as portfolio holder for environment and sustainability, and husband Councillor William Hobhouse is resigning his role as Rochdale Township Chairman.

The Hobhouses say the move is so they can spend more time being ward councillors in Norden and Bamford, and so Councillor Wera Hobhouse can pursue her ambition to become the MP for Heywood and Middleton.

But Labour Leader Councillor Colin Lambert claims they are “backing off” as a way of “negotiating their way out of embarrassment”.

He added: “They have stepped down now because they know they are going to be replaced.

"They are not doing their jobs properly and even members of their own party know that”.

Conservative Leader Ashley Dearnley said: “There have been murmerings for 6-12 months about removing Wera and William Hobhouse, and finally it has happened.

“They are making the jump before being pushed.”

But Councillor Wera Hobhouse says she wants to spend more time out of the Town Hall and in her ward with residents. She said: “It is our job as councillors to represent the community, and it is difficult to do this when we take on other roles in the cabinet.

“It is easy to disappear inside the Town Hall when we could be doing more work with residents; spending more time with them instead of losing touch with them.”

Councillor William Hobhouse said: “We have achieved most of what we set out to achieve three years ago, and it is simply time to do something else.

“I am happy that Devolution has happened and the Green agenda was a success.”

He added: “Wera is very ambitious and I’d like to support her”.

The official 'step-down' will be announced at a council meeting on 20 May.