“We want people to see that things are starting to shift”

CLLR WANTS TO CREATE STABILITY FOR THE CITY

- By DANIEL HOLLAND

“PEOPLE voted for change, so change is what we need to deliver.”

Newcastle's new council leader is well aware of the challenge ahead of him.

Last month's local elections brought about a huge overhaul of city politics, ending Labour's 15-year stint in power at the Civic Centre. The message was clear: voters wanted something new. Exactly what that something new was, however, was less obvious.

The Liberal Democrats, Reform UK, and the Green Party finished almost neck-and-neck but none even came to claiming a majority in the council chamber.

As a result, the city council is now being run by a minority Lib Dem administration after they signed an agreement to secure the support of the Greens. It is hoped that the deal can hold for the next 12 months, until another round of elections changes the balance of power again.

Colin Ferguson, who was installed as council leader two weeks ago, has pledged “stability” for an authority plagued by behind-the-scenes turbulence over the past few years.

But he insists that the lack of a clear political consensus at the council, with the Lib Dems being the largest party despite being 15 seats short of a majority, should not prevent significant action being taken in the next year.

The Northern Irishman told the Journal that “sitting still is not an option and that is not something I am remotely interested in.” He said: “People expect politicians to work together.

“The idea that we would all sit at loggerheads - frankly, I don’t think it is in the interest of the city and I don’t think it is what the public wants. They want us to get on and deliver.”

The Gosforth councillor added: “People voted for change, so change is what we need to deliver. You deliver change firstly through creating that stability which gives you the space to have the conversations you need to have.