The Cheshire East Labour Group says it is sad to announce the death of David Newton.

David was Leader of the Cheshire East Labour Group for five years from May 2012 to May 2017 and stepped down as a councillor in July 2017 due to ill health.

A spokesperson said: "In a long political career that started in 1976 as a Crewe and Nantwich Borough Councillor, David served from 1984 as County Councillor for Crewe West and later as Chair of Cheshire County Council, before becoming a Cheshire East Councillor in 2011.

"He was very highly respected by council officers and councillors alike and will be sadly missed."

Cheshire East leader, Cllr Sam Corcoran said, "David was a statesman. He was very calm and quietly spoken.

"He was also prepared to put his head above the parapet when needed. If only David had been listened to more, then the reputation and finances of Cheshire East Council would have been in a much better position.

"I am pleased that he lived to be fully vindicated in raising his concerns. He was also very helpful to me when I succeeded him as group leader, and generously gave me the benefit of his wide experience."

Cllr Steve Hogben said: "David was both a county councillor and the local Labour Party secretary when I first knew him nearly forty years ago.

"He later became party chairman, indeed he organised the campaign when I was first elected in March 1988.

"Labour won a seat off the Social Democrats in Crewe on that occasion and two years later, took control of Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council.

"So I am among many people with good reason to be grateful to David for the chance to make a difference in local politics.

"It is said that all political careers end in failure, but that could not be said of David Newton.

"He had a distinguished career in politics and ended it in the style with which he had conducted himself throughout - stepping down graciously when his health meant that he could not do full justice to his role."

His funeral will take place on Friday, January 6th 2023 at 1.45 pm at Crewe Crematorium.