LABOUR’S national party is to tackle the chaos that has gripped Tameside Council, citing ‘unacceptable working practices.’
Four senior members – Cllrs Jack Naylor, George Newton, Claire Reid and Hugh Roderick – all resigned from their roles on Thursday, October 10.
Now after a withering report into the authority’s ‘inadequate’ children’s services found claims of a ‘toxic’ and ‘bullying’ culture, the national party is stepping in.
And if it decides the ‘culture change’ it wants means a new executive leader, Cllr Gerald Cooney will be removed.
It will then pick a new one, not sitting councillors as normal.
A campaign improvement board will sit with the existing political leadership and decide a way forward.
A Labour spokesperson said: “Due to the unacceptable working practices at Tameside Labour Group, Labour have taken the decision to implement a campaign improvement board to bring about the culture change the group requires with immediate effect.”
Labour’s decision comes as Tameside Council is likely to bring in neighbouring Oldham Council’s chief executive Harry Catherall on an interim basis following the resignation of Sandra Stewart.
Tameside’s three MPs – Angela Rayner, Jonathan Reynolds and Andrew Gwynne – all came out and said they ‘welcomed’ her departure.
The Correspondent also understands noises about a leadership challenge are growing within the ruling group.
Labour has performed similar actions in Liverpool, Sheffield and most recently in Birmingham, where it removed its leader.
What are the unacceptable practices they keep talking about? This tells the public nothing.