New Leadership announced for Northumberland Labour.

Changes are on the horizon for Northumberland’s Labour Group as Druridge Bay Councillor Scott Dickinson has been elected as Leader of the group, made up of Northumberland County Council’s elected Labour representatives.

Cllr Dickinson, who was previously deputy leader of the group was elected by his fellow Labour councillors and has tonight appointed his deputy, Councillor Liz Simpson, who will support him in the role holding Northumberland’s Conservative Administration to account.

Accepting the post tonight Cllr Dickinson said; “I would like to thank Northumberland councillors for their confidence in me to lead our group of Labour representatives. I remain convinced that the vast majority of people living in Northumberland want a decent home, a decent job, support when they need it and an education which equips them for the world in which we are now living. Residents in Northumberland deserve a thriving, cleaner and greener county to live in.”

Cllr Dickinson is a well-known political figure in the region, having previously represented the Labour Party as a Parliamentary Candidate in several General Elections. Raised in Broomhill, Cllr Dickinson has outlined his commitment to ‘community politics’ and is keen to lead a strong opposition which speaks for every resident in the geographically challenging and diverse county of Northumberland.

“I will seek consensus whenever possible, but our role in opposition in the council is to hold the elected majority to account when we feel they are not acting in the interests of everyone living in our county.”

“We want be an effective opposition and work towards securing a majority in the council at the next election which meets the needs of each and every person living in our county.”

Cllr Dickinson has been deputy leader for the last two years working alongside previous group leader Susan Dungworth. He has worked in the charitable sector for 15 years delivering initiatives supported by Children in Need, the Greggs Foundation, and the National Lottery. He has held various roles across the county council from business chair, chair of the health and wellbeing board and a number of other high-profile posts. He has also served on the North of Tyne Combined Authority.

Cllr Liz Simpson, Scott Dickinson’s elected deputy has a degree in business management from Northumbria University and a range of secretarial qualifications. From 1988 she worked at Wansbeck District Council, then she went on to work for Age UK Northumberland for 20 years and became the day services development manager; a role she loved.

Cllr Simpson said: “My role in Age UK took me right across the county. I met some wonderful people along the way and saw first-hand the different issues each community in Northumberland was facing. Having been a member of the Labour Party for many years before being elected to represent Newbiggin, It’s a great honour for me to chosen to support

Cllr Dickinson as his deputy. I know Scott will give a strong voice to all in our county. I will be supporting Scott to form an effective opposition which seeks consensus and agreement where possible, but quite properly holds the council leaders to account where their actions will have a negative effect on our county's residents.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors

· More information on Northumberland Labour Group can be found at https://northumberland.laboursites.org/

· Requests for further comment or information can be requested by contacting the Office of Cllr Scott Dickinson on 07736630404 – Votedickinson@aol.com Twitter - @Scottdickinson0 Facebook Scott Dickinson – Druridge Bay