Labour selects its new Leader and Deputy Leader after losing control of Sheffield Council

Coun Fox has been Deputy Leader of the party since September 2019. It’s understood he was successful on the first ballot of Labour councillors.

Coun Julie Grocott, who is Cabinet member for transport and development, was selected as Deputy Leader.

Coun Fox’s selection comes less than 24 hours after former Leader, Coun Bob Johnson lost his Hillsborough seat in the local elections.

He had been leading the city for just five months and had taken over following the retirement of Julie Dore, after her decade long rule.

Mr Johnson lost his seat, which he had held for a decade, by 324 votes. The Greens polled 2,337 votes while Labour took 2,013.

Coun Fox represents Manor Castle and he has been a councillor since 2002. He was previously a Cabinet member for environment and transport and had made a leadership challenge before against Julie Dore.

He may be Labour’s new Leader but the party has lost overall control of the council. The Greens gained five seats in the election, the Liberal Democrats took three and the Conservatives had a surprise win in Stocksbridge.

The parties will need to create a coalition and have until the council’s AGM on May 19 to come up with a solution and working partnership.