Walsall Council leader re-elected to post, despite suspension

Mike Bird was re-elected as leader of the ruling Conservative group on Walsall Council – now renamed the Conservative and Independent group – at a meeting last night.

The vote took place hours after Councillor Bird was suspended by the Conservative Party, along with Councillor Suky Samra, on matters relating to a long-running dispute between the pair.

Bot councillors have lodged appeals against their three-month suspensions.

"I'm very pleased and proud to have been re-elected, and will continue to do the job I have been doing," he said.

"I've had overwhelming support, as a group I had the support of 90 per cent of the members."

The group was renamed simply to accommodate Councillor Bird, and is unrelated to the separate Independent Group which sits on the council.

Councillor Bird said the group had previously used the Conservative and Independent name in the 1990s. He said if his appeal did not succeed, it would use the label until his suspension expired, and would then revert to being just the Conservative group.

Councillor Anthony Harris said he retained his full confidence in Councillor Bird's leadership.

"I have been in the group for 21 years, and have seen the man work his tail off," he said.

"I have seen a man that is fair to all parties, and makes sometimes hard decisions for the good of the borough.

"It's not about the Conservative Party, it's about the group. It's always had an association with independents. We have had coalitions before, we have had coalitions with the Liberals. We don't need a coalition for this."

Councillor Harris said there was little point in electing an interim leader, only to reinstate Councillor Bird at a later date.