New leader at Redcar and Cleveland Council after George Dunning resigns

A new independent leader has been appointed at Redcar and Cleveland Council after George Dunning resigned his position.

Cllr Mary Lanigan, leader of the Independent Group, was elected to lead the council until May’s elections.

Bitter infighting in the Labour group has now led to the party effectively lose control of the authority.

The change at the top is the culmination of weeks of wrangling, which first saw Cllr Dunning and a number of colleagues be deselected and then quit the party.

Rival councillors had called for a vote of no confidence in him ahead of yesterday’s full council meeting.

But a packed public gallery watched Cllr Dunning jump before he was pushed to leave the position he has held since 2007.

The Independent and Liberal Democrat groups have now gone into coalition, with Lib Dem Cllr Josh Mason - who hinted at a possible council tax cut for rate-payers - named as deputy leader.

Read more: Mary Lanigan: Who is Redcar and Cleveland Council's new leader?

Many had expected fireworks at the meeting after Cllr Dunning and ten other councillors resigned their Labour Party membership after he and a raft of senior councillors were told they could not stand again for Labour in their wards.

In his resignation speech, Cllr Dunning talked up his administration’s successes, and thanked the council’s executive, deputy Sheelagh Clarke, the cabinet and his family - especially his wife Beryl.

Cllr Lanigan, Loftus ward councillor, went up against Cllr Sue Jeffrey, the new leader of the council’s Labour Group, in the leadership contest and received 30 votes to Cllr Jeffrey’s 15.

After the meeting, Cllr Lanigan told The Gazette that she will present her own budget that she believes “the people of Redcar and Cleveland will be pleased with”.

She said: “The aim between now and the local elections on May 7 will be bring about stability and continue with the pressing issues affecting Redcar and Cleveland Council and the residents of the borough. It is hoped that party politics can be set aside in order to achieve this.”

Cllr Dunning delivers his resignation speech

Members of the new cabinet were expected to be named on Thursday evening.

Cllr Mason added: “I will be calling for a council tax cut, I think it is affordable.

“After months of Labour Party wrangling and back-stabbing, it’s time to put our residents and communities back at the top of the council’s agenda.”

All eleven of the councillors who resigned their Labour Party membership last week voted for Cllr Lanigan to be leader.

After the meeting, Cllr Dunning said that the group will stand as independents in May - apart from Doreen Rudland and Wendy Wall who will not stand again.

Cllr Dunning: “This is a sad day, and I feel for my team who have worked very hard for this borough.

“I fully supported Cllr Lanigan for leader. We will see what policies are put forward before we decide to support them.”Former deputy Cllr Sheelagh Clarke said: “George went out with dignity. He has been a brilliant leader.”

Cllr Olwyn Peters, one of the eleven to resign her membership, said: “I am sad for George, but we went in there with our heads up and controlled the meeting. I feel that is a little bit of justice.”

Cllr Mark Hannon, another to resign from Labour, said: “I feel that lazy Labour in Redcar and Cleveland is now a damaged brand. I can’t see them getting control back of the council.”