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Will Sir Richard Leese return as leader of Manchester City Council? Sir Richard is one of the country's major figures in local government but has stepped down after accepting a caution for physically assaulting his stepdaughter. The official line is that the move is temporary. He has said he needs time to resolve ‘serious family issues'. Jim Hancock is former BBC North West correspondent However, time is not on his side. The Labour group meets shortly after polling day for its annual election of leader. And its members will want the matter resolved then. There was already a feeling among some of his colleagues that, after 14 years at the helm, it was time for Sir Richard to stand down. In these circumstances, he might find it hard to resume control. If this very personal incident marks the end of his career, it will be a spectacular fall for a man who has been one half of a formidable partnership with chief executive, Sir Howard Bernstein. Together, they have brought Manchester from the destruction of an IRA bomb in 1996 to the gleaming city it is today. Sir Richard is chair of the North West Leaders' Board and was recently appointed to head a government task force on savings and protecting frontline services. But, he has had setbacks. He lost the referendum on congestion charging in 2008, and just after that, was injured trying to stop two men stealing his car. The general election has overshadowed important local government contests across the north of England. Labour has been on the slide in our town halls from the moment Tony Blair won. Will the tide start to turn for the party locally on 6 May, whatever happens to the party nationally? Buoyed by the higher turnout expected due to the general election, Labour is targeting Leeds, Liverpool and St Helens, in particular.

Title

WHITEHALL

Soap Box

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