After six years, the Lib Dems are back at the helm at Stockport council. The town hall has a new leader - and a new administration.
Lib Dem leader Councillor Mark Hunter emerged victorious from a crunch town hall vote. Coun Hunter defeated Labour’s Coun Elise Wilson by 31 votes to 25 to put his group back at the helm for the first time since 2016.
The vote came two weeks after the local elections again left the authority under no overall control - albeit the Lib Dems remained the largest group, increasing their number from 26 to 28 thanks to two gains at the Tories expense. Labour held on to the reins last year - despite having one councillor fewer than the Lib Dems - effectively due to the Conservatives refusing to oust Coun Wilson before the end of her term.
