Fresh blow for Tameside Council leader as councillor rejects cabinet post

TAMESIDE Council’s increasingly beleaguered leader has suffered a fresh blow after a councillor turned down a cabinet job – after she had been announced.

Tafheen Sharif, who was civic mayor last year, was lined up to replace Eleanor Wills, who was sacked by Cllr Gerald Cooney as executive member for population health and wellbeing.

But in the latest damaging move to the current political head, the Mossley representative has turned down the approach – even though her appointment had been confirmed.

Cllr Sharif told him change can only be implemented by collaborative working, something which appears to have gone out of the window in recent days and hours.

In an email, Cllr Sharif said: “I am not in a position to accept your offer of executive cabinet.

“The people of Tameside need us more than ever before, and I will continue to serve them to the best of my abilities.

“Only through working together will we achieve change.”