Coventry City Council leader holds on to role

60 minutes ago

Simon GilbertPolitical Reporter, Coventry and Warwickshire

News image — George Duggins is the longest serving leader in the history of Coventry City Council, since it was reformed in 1974, serving as leader since 2016

BBC George Duggins at the Coventry City Council election count. He wears a green jacket and tie and a Labour rosette. — George Duggins is the longest serving leader in the history of Coventry City Council, since it was reformed in 1974, serving as leader since 2016

Coventry City Council's Labour leader looks set to hold on to his position after an unsuccessful leadership challenge.

George Duggins, who took over as council leader in 2016, was re-elected as head of Coventry's Labour Group at a private group meeting on Tuesday evening.

Labour remains the biggest group on the council following the recent local elections. Duggins is on course to be reinstated as leader when the authority meets on May 21.

Despite Labour being the largest group, with 24 seats, no party has overall control at the city council. Reform has 20 seats, the Conservatives six and the Greens four.

Abdul Khan stands outside Coventry Council House. He wears a grey chequered coat and a blue tie with red stripes. — Abdul Khan had served as George Duggins' deputy for the past ten years

Duggins had faced a challenge for the leadership from his deputy leader, Abdul Khan, but Khan was blocked from standing on Monday by national party figures due to a historic rebuke from a legal regulator.

Khan had served as Duggins' deputy but will now move to the back benches after the unsuccessful leadership challenge.

Lynnette Kelly will move into the role of deputy leader. Kelly has served as a councillor on and off since 2004 and stood as the Labour candidate in the 2015 General Election where she missed out on the Warwick and Leamington seat.

other A woman with short red hair, wearing a bright red woolly scarf and black coat looks at the camera. Behind her is a backdrop of Coventry Cathedral with the knife angel, a statue of an angel made out of knives, is behind her. — Lynnette Kelly was re-elected to the council in 2023 and will now serve as Deputy Leader

There had been a feeling among local Labour figures that Duggins would choose to stand down following the election performance, where Labour lost 17 seats, and 10 years in charge.

Reform candidates celebrate at the Coventry City Council election count. — Reform's success at the Coventry City Council elections meant Labour lost control of the authority, but Labour is still expected to lead it

But he surprised some colleagues by announcing his decision to stand again.

Duggins came third in his Longford seat, which means he only has a year-long term before he is up for re-election.

Some Labour sources have told the BBC they are concerned about the uncertainty that creates, while others said they felt a change of direction was needed after losing control of the council.

But Duggins seems to have won over the doubters and the longest serving leader in Coventry City Council's history will now remain in post until at least 2017.

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