Darlington
Challenging for the post of leader
DURHAM County Council leader Albert
Nugent is to face an immediate
challenge for the leadership of the new
unitary authority.
As the Labour Party took stock of
yesterday's election results and digested
the bitter pill that its majority
had been reduced to eight, senior
sources said at least five or six people
were weighing up whether to stand for
the position of leader.
Among those who are believed to be
preparing to throw their hats into the
ring are the leader of Easington District
Council, Alan Napier, and the present
deputy leader of the county council,
Clive Robson.
But Councillor Nugent is ready to do
battle and speaking from the leader's
room on the morning after he had
topped the poll in his Deneside ward,
he made no secret of his plans.
"I have the experience and knowledge
of this authority and I will definitely
be standing," he said. But in the
corridors outside his office, challengers
were clearly emerging.
Councillor Robson has declared his
intentions, saying: "I will discuss it
within the party, but certainly I would
hope to go for it."
Less willing to show his hand was
Councillor Napier, who told The Northern
Echo: "Over the weekend I will be
speaking with my family and colleagues
within and outside the council
before I make a decision about the
leadership of the new authority."
Last night, Councillor Simon Henig,
deputy leader of Chester-le-Street District
Council, confirmed he would be
"taking soundings" from friends before
deciding whether to put his name
forward.
Outside the leadership battle, others
were assessing the overall political picture
emerging from an election night
on which Labour suffered a number of
high-profile losses, including former
county council leader Ken Manton, in
Bishop Auckland town.
Among other casualties were county
council chairwoman Edna Hunter,
in Tanfield, and Wear Valley District
Council leader Neil Stonehouse, in
Coundon.
The elections left Labour on 67 seats,
the Lib Dems on 27, independents on 22
and the Conservatives on ten - a
Labour majority of eight.
The Lib Dems confirmed their position
as the main opposition party, winning
15 seats in Durham, including a
notable win for John Wilkinson, in
Deerness Valley, one in Derwentside,
two in Easington, three in Sedgefield
and six in Wear Valley.
The independents increased their
number of seats from three to 20, taking
ten seats in Derwentside, while
John Shuttleworth scored a remarkable
2,035 votes in Weardale.
Half the Conservatives' ten seats
were in its Teesdale heartland and the
party also made unexpected gains in
Willington and Pelton.
The British National Party, which
fielded 30 candidates across the county
failed to win a single seat, but came
within 130 votes of capturing Tudhoe.
8:02am Saturday 3rd May 2008
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