Labour to run Bolton council for another year after crunch town hall vote

Akhtar Zaman has been elected by councillors as the new leader of the authority

Labour will run Bolton council for the next year after a new leader was elected.

Coun Akhtar Zaman gained the backing of a majority of councillors at the authority’s annual general meeting on Wednesday evening. The full council met after the local elections on May 7 which saw significant changes in its make up.

Despite losing five seats, Labour remain the biggest party on the 60-strong council with 20 seats.

Reform UK who made significant gains in the poll, have 10 seats, as do the Conservatives.

The rest of the council is made up of Liberal Democrats with five members, the Greens have four, Horwich & Blackrod Independents with four, Farnworth & Kearsley First have three members and Communities First two.

Join our new Makerfield by-election WhatsApp community by clicking this link for the latest news. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.

There is one Independent councillor and one vacancy.

A Tory amendment to the proposal to install its leader, Nadim Muslim as council leader was defeated.

Proposing Coun Zaman for leader, deputy Labour leader Martin Donaghy said: “The smooth running of the services on Bolton is the paramount interest for all of us here.

“I have never met a councillor who got into power to do damage.

“There are people relying on us as the first part of their representation to continue to deliver services to the people.”

Coun Gary Veevers, Liberal Democrat leader said it was clear that due to the number of councillors for each party that only Labour were in a position to lead.

He said: “We remain unequivocally a party in opposition. “It’s regrettable that we are just five of us here tonight.

“It is incumbent for us to leave here with a fully functional council.”

Coun David Grant, leader of the Horwich and Blackrod First independents, said: “While I appreciate that Labour had a crushing defeat a few weeks ago, voters showed that they don’t really want the Conservatives either.”

He and other party councillors voted in favour of Coun Zaman for leader.

Addressing the Labour and Conservative benches, Reform leader Trevor Jones said: “The people of Bolton just voted and they don’t want this shower back in.

“It’s pretty obvious. And they certainly don’t want someone who lost 14 per cent of their vote share either.”

The vote on Coun Zaman for leader saw the Green Party members abstain.

After winning the vote for the leadership Labour will appoint members to cabinet positions who will have executive control of the authority.

Later in the meeting Labour suffered a setback when a Tory amendment to install Coun Andy Morgan as chair of planning was supported by a majority of members.

Labour had wished to appoint Coun Emily Mort to that role.

Coun Zaman takes over the role of council leader from Nick Peel, who lost his seat in Tonge & the Haulgh ealrier this month.

Speaking after his appointment, Coun Zaman said: “Never did I believe that I would be leader of this great town.

“To me Bolton is the most beautiful place on the earth. “I came to this town more than 40 years ago with absolutely nothing.

“This town took me into its own and gave me everything I have today. “We will continue the work to regenerate our town.

“We will work for a greener, cleaner, and safer borough, where diverse communities live in peace and harmony.”