Conservatives to continue running Bolton Council after ‘run-off’ vote to elect leader

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

The Conservatives will continue to lead Bolton Council after their leader Martyn Cox topped the poll in a ‘run off’ vote by councillors.

At the annual general meeting of the council today members of the 60-strong council were unable to come to a majority decision on the leadership with a motion to appoint Coun Cox voted down.

A Labour amendment to the motion seeking to appoint Coun Nick Peel to the role was also defeated. That led to a run off, with Coun Cox getting 27 votes and Coun Peel 19.

Twelve councillors voted ‘none of the above’. They included three, Liberal Democrats, two Farnworth and Kearsley First members, the two Horwich and Blackrod councillors and the two One Kearsley members. Read more: Sweet reason why Morrisons is giving free cornflower seeds for Queen's Platinum Jubilee The vote means Coun Cox will lead the minority Tory group in forming an administration and he will appoint a cabinet from his party group.