Portsmouth Labour picks new group leader as MP steps down from Portsmouth City Council

Councillor George Fielding will now lead the six-strong group on Portsmouth City Council, with Cllr Cal Corkery as his deputy.

It comes as Portsmouth South MP Stephen Morgan a Charles Dickens ward member, has confirmed he will not stand for reelection as a councillor. He remains an MP.

Cllr Fielding said: ‘I would like to thank Stephen for his significant service to the city as a councillor and to our party as group leader over the last five years.

‘I relish the opportunity to build on his important work and that of my brilliant colleagues in my new leadership role.’

He added: ‘Portsmouth Labour will be setting out its exciting vision for the future under the group’s new leadership in the coming days.’

Cllr Fielding was elected in 2018 and has previously chaired the Portsmouth Labour party.

Cllr Corkery added: ‘Over the past few years the Labour Group has successfully set the agenda on the big issues of the day including the climate crisis, the Living Wage and renters’ rights.

‘I hope to continue this work with our team, pushing forward the agenda of municipal socialism that our city so desperately needs.’

He said former deputy Cllr Tom Coles had ‘contributed greatly to the local party’.

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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