Tameside council’s first female leader faces being ousted as discontent among the ruling Labour group builds ahead of next month’s local elections. Councillor Brenda Warrington is to be challenged for the top job by current housing boss Coun Ged Cooney - who has warned her ‘change is coming’.
It comes amid reports of growing dissatisfaction in Labour ranks over Coun Warrington’s leadership style, the regeneration of Ashton town centre and the hugely contentious Godley Green Garden Village plans. Coun Warrington - nicknamed ‘Brenda the Bulldozer’ by Tameside Tories - also sparked controversy last month by telling her political opponents the 2,000-home garden village would be ‘rammed down' their throats.
A leadership challenge is understood to have been bubbling away for sometime - with Coun Cooney emerging as the figurehead for those who want a change at the top. The Droylsden West councillor - now believed to have the support of more the majority of Labour members - is urging Coun Warrington to stand down.
