Labour's Sam Corcoran fought off a Tory challenge to be re-elected as leader of Cheshire East – but one of his own councillors refused to vote for him.

Cheshire East has been run by a joint Labour/Independent administration since the 2019 local elections with Cllr Corcoran as council leader.

Before 2019 Cheshire East had always been a Conservative stronghold and the Tories are still the largest party with 31 councillors.

At the annual meeting of the full council the Conservatives put forward their group leader, Cllr Janet Clowes, to be council leader so a vote had to be taken.

Several councillors were absent from the meeting at Tatton Park and Cllr Corcoran was re-elected as leader by 34 votes to 25, with three councillors abstaining.

Cheshire East Council's HQ Westfields in Sandbach

One who abstained was Labour councillor Anthony Critchley.

When asked why he had abstained, Cllr Critchley, who represents Crewe Central, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "I think my vote speaks for itself."

He said he did not wish to make any further comment.

Cllr David Marren, as mayor, abstained because the mayoral role is not political and Handforth councillor Julie Smith, who is non-grouped, also chose not to vote.

Alderley Edge councillor Craig Browne (Ind) was re-elected as the council's deputy leader unopposed.

Cllr Craig Browne

Labour and the Independent Group agreed to run the council jointly after the Tories lost their majority in what was seen as a shock result in the May 2019 elections.

The Conservatives currently have 31 councillors on Cheshire East, Labour has 25 and the Independent Group has 18. The Liberal Democrats have four councillors, the Real Independents two and there are two who are non-grouped.

The full council is up for election in 2023.