THE new second-in-command at Bradford Council has been revealed as Val Slater.

She was elected as new deputy council leader at a Labour group meeting last night, after the former deputy, Cllr Imran Hussain (Toller), was elected as the new Labour MP for Bradford East.

It is understood a by-election for Cllr Hussain's seat on the council will be held in the coming months.

Cllr David Green (Wibsey) was also re-elected as Labour leader, cllr Shakeela Lal (City) was elected as chief whip and cllr Michael Johnson (Tong) was chosen as group chairman.

Cllr Sinead Engel (Clayton and Fairweather Green) was chosen as vice-group chairman, while Nussrat Mohammed (Heaton) is the party's new secretary.

Cllr Green said: "Val Slater is an experienced councillor.

"She has been on the council's executive for a while and she will do a really good job as part of the team.

"But it's not all about the executive, it's about all of the Labour council working together to continue to try to deliver services for people in the district in the face of further extreme cuts from national Government.

"We have a great group who will help create jobs, improve schools and deliver care to those who need it in Bradford."

The make-up of the council's Executive will be revealed at a later date, Cllr Green said.

Meanwhile, the opposition Tories at Bradford Council yesterday chose Councillor Simon Cooke as their new leader.

Cllr Cooke (Bingley Rural), formerly the Tories' deputy leader, stood unopposed for the role at the Conservative group's annual general meeting last night.

Last Friday, Councillor Glen Miller (Worth Valley) said he was stepping down as Conservative leader, saying he needed "a break from front-line politics".

Cllr Cooke said: "I am honoured and humbled to have been selected as the new leader of the Conservative group. I intend to work hard to ensure that I do not disappoint my colleagues who have placed their trust in me, during what will be a challenging time for the group on the council.

"It will be a challenge to follow in Glen’s footsteps, as he provided strong leadership and a clear policy direction. It is however a challenge which I am eagerly looking forward to."

The group selected cllr John Pennington (Bingley) as the new deputy leader of the Conservatives, and Cllr Cooke will appoint the group's chief whip in the coming days.

And the Liberal Democrat group also met to elect its leadership, with Councillor Jeanette Sunderland (Idle and Thackley) remaining as leader, Councillor Alun Griffiths (Idle and Thackley) remaining as deputy and cllr Dominic Fear (Idle and Thackley) named as the new chief whip, after the retirement of long-standing councillor and former chief whip Howard Middleton.