Labour Party chooses new Birmingham council leader

John Cotton said he would seek to "heal wounds and bring people together"

The Labour Party has chosen who it wants to be leader of Birmingham City Council.

John Cotton, formerly the cabinet member responsible for social justice, community safety and equalities, has been recommended to replace Ian Ward.

Interviews were carried out on Saturday and the recommendations are due to be confirmed by a vote on Tuesday.

The decision was taken after a report criticised the "dysfunctional" climate at the Labour-run authority.

Mr Cotton said he would seek to "heal wounds and bring people together".

He also said: "These are not the circumstances I would have wanted to take over in, but I feel I have a duty to serve."

'Lifetime of service'

The National Executive Committee (NEC) panel also chose to recommend Sharon Thompson as the new deputy leader.

Decisions are still due to be made regarding a new chief whip, chairman and secretary of the Labour group.

The critical report also found a "concerning" number of members "highlighted levels of misogyny".

The new leader-elect paid tribute to his predecessor, Ian Ward

Outgoing leader Mr Ward, who was re-elected with a four-year mandate in 2022, had insisted he retained the confidence of the group and put his name forward again, but was not approved by the NEC interview panel.

Mr Cotton paid tribute to Mr Ward and said he "not only led the council through a cost of living crisis, pandemic and delivered the greatest ever Commonwealth Games, but has given a lifetime of service to our movement".

Analysis

By Elizabeth Glinka, BBC West Midlands Political Editor

Former leader Ian Ward, bolstered by the support of some of the city's Labour MPs seemed determined to hang on come what may, despite considerable public and private pressure to resign. However, as news broke of the NEC's decision we learned Mr Ward had flown off on holiday to Italy, and would not be attending the party's AGM.

I'm told his well thought-of deputy, Councillor Bridgit Jones did interview to replace him, but was not selected because of a lack of acceptance of the problems highlighted in the internal CIB report.

The new leader has been around a while, and at this early stage reactions from different factions within the group seem relatively positive, when given the divisions on show this week one might have expected open hostility.

One leading Ward supporter said they would have preferred a vote, but called the newly appointed leader and deputy leader "two very decent people".

Robert Alden, the leader of the Conservative opposition on the council, accused Labour of installing "a new puppet regime in charge of Birmingham Labour."

He added: "Their new focus, as instructed by London, is to protect the Labour brand, not deliver improved services for residents."