The new leader of Birmingham’s Labour group has said the party needs to ‘respect the outcome of the election’ and will not look to form part of any coalition.Â
Newly elected Bournville & Cotteridge councillor Nicky Brennan secured her Birmingham City Council seat after several recounts with just 3 votes between herself and Green Party candidate Richard Winters. Today, Cllr Brennan confirmed she has been selected as the Labour Party’s new leader in the city, saying the party must ‘reflect’, ‘listen’ and ‘rebuild trust and support’.
Cllr Brennan’s full statement: “I’m happy to announce that I have been confirmed as the Birmingham Labour Group Leader.
“The Labour Party in Birmingham has worked hard over recent years to turn Birmingham City Council around and I want to pay tribute to John Cotton’s leadership during this time to get the council finances back on track. But we understand that voters are frustrated by the pace of change.
“We respect the outcome of the election and the message voters have sent. Now is the time for us to reflect carefully on the result, listen to residents, and rebuild trust and support with our communities.
“For that reason, our group will not be entering into any coalition agreement or power-sharing arrangement with other parties.
“We will continue to serve residents constructively from the opposition benches, holding the new administration to account where necessary while supporting decisions that are in the best interests of the city and its residents.”
