Majid Mahmood ‘won’t stand for council leadership’ and backs Clancy
Health scrutiny committee chair Majid Mahmood has dismissed speculation that he will run for the leadership of Birmingham city council, and thrown his weight behind the campaign of John Clancy.
In a big boost to the Clancy campaign, Cllr Mahmood said Clancy represented a “positive way forward” for Birmingham and was best placed to succeed Sir Albert Bore.
His announcement follows speculation that most of Birmingham’s Asian councillors will back Clancy, who appears now to be clear favourite to win the contest.
Cllr Clancy is expected to publish his manifesto tomorrow along with a list of councillors who have agreed to back him.
As things stand, there are only two candidates contesting the election – Cllr Clancy and deputy council leader Ian Ward.
Cllr Mahmood, a councillor for Hodge Hill, issued the following statement to Labour councillors:
In order to dismiss the on-going media speculation around my candidature for the forthcoming Labour leadership contest in Birmingham I confirm that I will not be putting myself forward on this occasion. I would like this opportunity to thank wholeheartedly all the Labour colleagues who approached me to stand, and I very much appreciate their support.
I am a born and bred diehard Brummie, and love this city. I do not believe it is in the interests of the party to have a long drawn out contest to succeed Sir Albert Bore with an on-going Kerslake Review, and draconian cuts in order to implement the recommendations of the review, and to set our stall for the future working of the council within the parameters of substantially reduced funding.
I have spoken to John to discuss the vision I have for the city, and then also his own detailed manifesto John which he will soon be announcing. Every Child, Every Citizen, Every Place, Every Business vision and policy programme accords with my own ideas. I firmly believe this is the positive way forward for the Labour group in Birmingham, the Birmingham Labour party, and most of all the city.
As you are all acutely aware Leadership requires an individual to lead, talk, and persuade others to share vision, ideas, policies and not sit on the sidelines waiting for something to happen.
Our city is at a critical juncture, and we cannot fail the very people who have shown their trust in the political process. We are all collectively responsible, and must work together with partners for the desired outcome.
I therefore encourage all of you to place your trust and confidence in John Clancy and endorse John as the new Leader of the Labour group and Leader of the Birmingham City Council so that we can together get to work immediately to take Birmingham forward with our partners.
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