Nottinghamshire council's deputy leader replaced after MP resigns

A Nottinghamshire council has replaced its deputy leader after 13 years as the previous office holder steps back to focus on being an MP. Michael Payne has been Gedling Borough Council's deputy leader since first being elected to the authority in 2011.

Having served under the leadership of Councillor John Clarke throughout that period, Mr Payne recently confirmed he was stepping down after being elected as Gedling's new Labour MP at the July general election. Gedling Borough Council has now announced that Councillor Jenny Hollingsworth has been selected as the new deputy leader of the Labour-run authority.

Councillor Hollingsworth has been a Gedling councillor for 17 years and has held various cabinet roles for the last 13 years. Councillor Hollingsworth, who will take up the role with immediate effect, said: "I am honoured to have been selected by the Labour group to become the new deputy leader of Gedling Borough Council and the first female one and I look forward to getting on with the role and working with the leader on the council's priorities.

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"I would like to say a big thank you to the outgoing deputy leader, our new MP for Gedling Michael Payne, for his outstanding work over the last 13 years as the deputy. The borough is a much-improved place thanks to his dedication and I will continue his work and ensure that our community are at the forefront of everything we do."

Mr Payne will remain a backbench councillor at Gedling for the time being, though says he will eventually step down from that role given that the next elections for that council are not due until 2027. The Gedling MP's other roles include being a county councillor and the chair of Nottinghamshire's fire authority.

The MP will step back from his fire authority role before the end of the year but says he will not trigger a costly by-election by stepping down from the county council, given that the next election for that authority is only in May 2025. Mr Payne will not be seeking re-election in May.

Councillor John Clarke added: "I am incredibly pleased to announce that Councillor Jenny Hollingsworth will become the deputy leader of this great borough with immediate effect. I have worked with Jenny for many years and her dedication to her community and the role of councillor has been paramount in the group's decision to appoint her."