Labour-led council survives no confidence vote

The vote means council leader, Labour's Dennis Jones, will stay in his post

A Labour-run city council has held onto its leadership after surviving a motion of no confidence vote.

Peterborough First leader Chris Harper put forward the motion after forming an alliance with the Liberal Democrat and Green Party groups.

At a meeting on Wednesday, 26 councillors voted for the motion while 32 councillors voted against, and one abstained.

Speaking after the vote, Labour leader Dennis Jones told the Local Democracy Reporting Service he was "humbled" by the support he received.

"Yes, there's an element of relief but I was always hoping that common sense would prevail.

"I just feel we're on the right track and I want to take all 60 councillors with this administration for the thing we're all elected to do: for the people of Peterborough."

'Common ground'

The motion argued that a reduction in Labour group members since last year's election by two had "led opposition members to doubting the capacity of the administration to effectively deliver".

Before the vote, Conservative group leader Wayne Fitzgerald said the motion was "bizarre" and that Jones had done a "pretty good job" as leader.

Harper said Peterborough First had found "much common ground" with the Liberal Democrats and Green Party, and urged members to vote for the motion.

One Peterborough First councillor, Mark Ormston, resigned from the group before the full meeting and abstained from voting, meaning he is now an independent councillor.

Labour will continue to hold its minority administration since taking charge in May 2024.

The council is made up of 17 Labour councillors, 12 Peterborough First councillors, 11 Conservatives, eight Liberal Democrats, seven independents and five Green Party councillors.