Labour leader of Kirklees council resigns ahead of no-confidence vote

Local party sources told The Yorkshire Post that Mr Pandor was facing a no confidence vote among Labour councillors with the majority expected to vote against him next week.

At the council’s previous full meeting Mr Pandor was accused by Conservative councillors of “willfully misleading” colleagues over his handling of the case of Fazila Loonat, a fellow Labour councillor who was given 16 weeks in prison for perverting the course of justice in an attempt to dodge a speeding ticket.

Ms Loonat has since resigned, with a by-election due to take place on Thursday, August 31.

The resignation of former councillor Fazila Loonat has eliminated the earlier uncertainty around the future of her seat. After her sentencing, Ms Loonat’s role in the Labour Party and Kirklees’ Labour group was unclear, with Leader of the Council, Cllr Shabir Pandor, getting a grilling from the Tories at a full council meeting.

Following the meeting, it was clarified that Ms Loonat was subject to an “administrative suspension” and still technically a Labour member with a seat on the council, despite being behind bars.

A Kirklees Labour source said that many in the local and national party had become “very disillusioned” with Mr Pandor’s leadership, with many feeling that there is a need to reconnect with voters ahead of next year’s general election.

There was an understanding at “all levels in the Labour Party” that Mr Pandor had to go, they said.

Sources pointed to the close-run race in Batley where the Conservatives came within 20 votes of winning a strong Labour ward as a “wake-up call” that the party was going backwards in the area.

It is understood that a campaign improvement board had not been established in Kirklees as there had been in Sheffield prior to the resignation of City Council leader Terry Fox.

Mr Fox was forced out following an investigation by the national Labour Party which found serious failings of leadership, such as the trees scandal in the city.

In a statement, Cllr Pandor said: "I will be resigning from my position of Leader of Kirklees Labour Group and Leader of Kirklees council with immediate effect. I would like to thank the Labour Party, Kirklees Council, Labour Group and everyone who has supported and assisted me in my time as Leader and Deputy Leader.

"Leading Kirklees Council has been an honour and a privilege and I am immensely grateful for the opportunity to serve. I’m incredibly proud of our achievements during my time as leader. We have a very strong foundation and footing to continue to deliver services whilst we have solid ambitions for our towns and villages across Kirklees.

“I feel it’s time for me to stand aside to allow a renewed sense of direction, vision and aspiration for the people across Kirklees.

"I’m looking forward to supporting the new leadership and continuing my work in representing the brilliant residents of Batley West."