Keighley political stalwart Councillor Barry Thorne is the new deputy leader of Bradford council's Labour group.

His appointment was made at a group meeting in City Hall on Monday night.

Councillor Ian Greenwood was re-elected group leader, but the leadership of the full council is still in the melting pot.

The newly-elected group officials - chairman Councillor Susan Dewdney, secretary Councillor Val McMath and chief whip Councillor Tony Cairns - are negotiating with the Tories and Liberal Democrats over the setup of the now-hung council.

Cllr Thorne, who has represented Keighley West Ward since joining Bradford council 26 years ago, told us: "I am honoured the group has made me deputy leader. I held the role during the hung council days of 1982-3, so hopefully my experience from then will be useful. Also it puts a Keighley member in a key position.

"With the council now hung we have got to look at the situation in an adult and constructive way, and respect the views of the public."

The leader of the council's Liberal Democrat group, Councillor Jeanette Sunderland, and Tory group leader Councillor Margaret Eaton, are adamant that Cllr Greenwood should not be council leader.

The leadership will be decided at the council's annual meeting in two weeks' time, but the opposition groups could comfortably oust Cllr Greenwood with their joint votes unless an agreement is reached.

Cllr Sunderland reiterated that there would be no pact between her group and Labour, and said the Liberal Democrats' priority would be improving education in the district.

She says: "I will await with interest what the Labour Group has to say, but I have already put my cards on the table."

Cllr Eaton said: "It is an extremely turbulent position. I find it hard to see how he could justify remaining council leader after the electorate made it clear they did not want the existing council leadership."

The dispute over the leadership follows the loss of 13 seats by Labour to the opposition at last week's council elections.

The Labour group has only a four-seat majority over the Tories and there are 11 Liberal Democrats and one Green Party councillor. The Labour officials will report to a group meeting called for next Monday at City Hall.

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