Council leader's swipe at colleagues as he quits

OPPOSITION leaders at Walsall Council have called for change within the Conservative-led authority following the sudden resignation of its leader.

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Cllr Aftab Nawaz, leader of the Independent group, and Cllr Matt Ward, leader of the Labour group spoke in the wake of Cllr Garry Perry’s shock resignation.

Cllr Perry (Con, Pelsall) announced his departure in a statement which condemned “a sustained campaign of political attrition” and “bullying dressed up as politics”.

He claimed that values such as “integrity and transparency are no longer shared” and he “refused to play the game of self-preservation” in order to stay in office.

Cllr Perry's deputy, Cllr Adrian Andrew, has stepped in as acting leader of the council until a new leader is chosen.