‘Nobody wins unless everybody wins’: New city council leader’s guiding principle

NEW CITY COUNCIL LEADER: Councillor Daren Hale. Picture by Neil Holmes Commercial Photography

The new leader of Hull City Council has said the authority will “stand shoulder to shoulder with small businesses”, and have an economic strategy of wealth-creating socialism.

Councillor Daren Hale was appointed as the new leader after a vote at a full council meeting this morning, the first since the local elections earlier this month. His Labour colleague, Councillor Hester Bridges, was appointed deputy leader.

In his maiden speech as leader, Coun Hale said the council would pursue the “different economic models” of authorities such as Preston and Salford, saying: “We genuinely believe in creating economic investment and sharing that wealth, reinvesting in infrastructure and community wealth-building in this city.

“Unless everybody wins, nobody wins.”

Coun Hale told the meeting that every stall in Hull’s indoor markets was now occupied for the first time in 117 years, which he used as a stick to beat opposition councillors, whom, he said, had dismissed the council’s investment in the markets as a “vanity project”.

Continuing his economic theme, he said: “This council will stand shoulder to shoulder with small businesses. Our economic strategy, our strategy of socialism, if you like, is about creating wealth and for the people of this city to have better jobs.”

Coun Hale began by paying tribute to all those who had lost loved ones to coronavirus, and also to the family of Hull City AFC legend Chris Chilton, whose death was announced this morning.

He also thanked former councillors who had lost their seats at the election for their service, and welcomed new members, including on the opposition benches.

The new leader then paid tribute to his predecessor, Councillor Stephen Brady OBE, whom he called “our brilliant leader”.

He said Coun Brady was “a man, I think, who single-handedly played the biggest role in changing the perception of our city, not just the things he led us to, City of Culture, but the reworking of the city centre, the renewal of it, all that public realm.

“What has followed from that is huge inward investment, business confidence. I think this city owes him a debt, and as the years go by the debt will be more and more apparent.”

He said Coun Brady was “a man with a brilliant heart, a brilliant sense of humour”, adding: “Thank you, Steve, for all your efforts for this city.”

Coun Brady had moved the motion for Coun Hale to be leader, saying: “I’m absolutely delighted to be moving my old friend and long-time deputy.

“I just want to say, very quickly, that I remember at the end of 2011 when we entered power with the finances in meltdown, with over one-thousand people being sacked, and what we’ve had since then.

“We’ve had stability of finances, sound finances, and also huge investment, so I can’t think of anybody more fitting than Councillor Daren Hale, and I so move.”

The Guildhall. Picture by Tom Arran Commercial Photography

A Liberal Democrat motion by Councillor Dave McCobb to have his group leader, Councillor Mike Ross, installed as council leader was earlier defeated.

Coun McCobb had told the chamber “that the people of Hull are clearly ready for change”. He said: “Under this Labour administration we can expect more of the same and people want change.”

Coun McCobb said there had now been two elections in which the Lib Dems had received more votes in the city than Labour, which prompted Coun Hale to intervene by saying “Not true”.

Coun McCobb said Labour might have more seats on the council, but they “do not have moral authority in the city and do not have the popular support of the people”.

He told the ruling Labour group: “If you continue to fail to listen to the people of Hull, to resent feedback, to behave in an arrogant, Guildhall-centric one-party mindset, then when the people of Hull get the opportunity in a year’s time [you will find] they no longer want Labour to run the council and you will get the results you deserve.”

Councillor John Fareham, now the only Conservative member of the council, put himself forward for leader as a “unity” candidate.

He said the Conservatives had come a “strong second in many seats” and had the largest growth. Coun Fareham told both Labour and the Lib Dems, in a reworking of a Lib Dem comment after the election: “I put you both on notice that I actually led the most dynamic growth in popular support.”

Coun Hale dismissed suggestions that the new Labour leadership represented a “hard-Left coup”, pointing out that he and Coun Bridges were elected unopposed at the group annual general meeting on Monday.

“Quite a boring AGM, really,” he said. Coun Hale said the “excitement” had been at the Lib Dem AGM, “where the young Turks, of [Ryan] Langley and [Jack] Haines fell short in their attempt to topple the leadership of Councillor Ross.

He added: “You clearly have lost one of your members - you can’t even get all the members elected on your ticket into the chamber.”

Neither Coun Haines or Coun Langley (Lib Dems) were at the meeting, although a Lib Dem member said Coun Haines was at a funeral and hoped to join the meeting later.

Coun Hale concluded his speech by saying: “We are going to drive this city on. Steve Brady has given us brilliant foundations. We are all passing through and it’s our job to be custodians of this great city while we hold our seats in this chamber.”

Councillor Lynn Petrini was installed as Lord Mayor, and Councillor Haroldo Hererra-Richmond was installed as Deputy Lord Mayor.