Leader faces down rebellion in party

SEFTON Council leader Marion Atkinson has faced down a rebellion within her own party and clung on to power after a little more than a year in charge.

- BY ELLIOT JESSET

The LDRS reported ahead of the Labour group annual general meeting (AGM) on Monday that Sudell ward councillor James Hansen had submitted a formal application to become the next leader of the authority's Labour group.

This initiated a process where Labour councillors had to choose who will lead the party into the next local elections.

Cllr Atkinson became Sefton's first female leader when she was elected in January 2024 and has been the only female council chief in the Liverpool City Region. She has now retained her position by just five votes following a ballot last week.