The Labour Group on Portsmouth City Council has elected a new group leader and deputy group leader to take the party through the development of its next manifesto and campaign to elect more Labour councillors this May. Congratulations to our new group leader Cllr George Fielding and deputy group leader Cllr Cal Corkery.

The vote follows Stephen Morgan MP confirming last year his intention to stand down as a city councillor on the local authority for the local elections on 6 May, delayed a year by the coronavirus pandemic. The Labour representative remains MP for Portsmouth South.

Following the election by Labour councillors tonight, Stephen Morgan MP, said: “It has been a real privilege to be the council group leader since September 2016, having been elected to serve Charles Dickens ward a few months before. 

In that time we have worked together and achieved a lot for the benefit of our city’s communities, whilst at the same time trebling our number on the council and building the team to campaign in every part of Portsmouth.

I look forward to working alongside the new council group leadership as Member of Parliament and in our party’s frontbench team, to elect more Labour councillors in the important local elections across our city this May”.

Successfully elected new group leader Cllr George Fielding said: “I would like to thank Stephen for his significant service to the city as a councillor and to our party as group leader over the last five years.

I relish the opportunity to build on his important work and that of my brilliant colleagues in my new leadership role.

Under the Tories in Westminster and the Lib Dems on the council, Portsmouth people are suffering a decade of decline and struggling with paying more, but getting less. 

Portsmouth Labour will be setting out its exciting vision for the future under the group‘s new leadership in the coming days”.

Cllr Fielding was first elected to Central Southsea ward in 2018, and has previously chaired the local party.

Newly elected deputy leader Cllr Cal Corkery added: “Over the past few years the Labour Group has successfully set the agenda on the big issues of the day including the climate crisis, the Living Wage and renters’ rights. 

I hope to continue this work with our team, pushing forward the agenda of municipal socialism that our city so desperately needs. 

Cllr Tom Coles has contributed greatly to the local party during his time as deputy leader. I thank him for his efforts and look forward to taking over the reins.”