Deputy follows in leader's footsteps and not seeking re-election

HOT on the heels of Warrington Borough Council leader Russ Bowden, his deputy Cllr. Cathy Mitchell has also announced she will not be seeking re-election.

Cllr. Mitchell says she has taken the “difficult decision” due to the challenges faced as a woman, the personal exposure endured and the “lack of effective and timely safeguards” hindering professional, personal and family life.

In a letter, she states: “Representing the area where I live and serving as the Deputy Leader of Warrington BoroughCouncil has been the honour of my life.
“I feel that I’ve made a difference for Burtonwood & Winwick; from setting up and leading a Community Bus scheme to successfully pressing for additional regular bus routes, to our NHS survey improving primary care services, new paths and cycleways to Omega, and negotiating to bring forward the Parkside Link Road ahead of any development on the site.

“As Deputy Leader with responsibility for finance, I’m proud to have balanced our budget year after year despite the Conservatives in Westminster cutting over £205m from Warrington’s finances. Chairing the Board of our municipal bus company as it enters a new era with an all-electric bus fleet and state-of-the-art depot, alongside stewarding our council’s own housing company as it builds truly affordable green homes on brownfield sites in the town, fills me with immense pride.
“Now more than ever, we need more women entering politics at all levels to ensure our voices are heard. Sadly, I have taken the difficult decision not to seek re-election in May 2024.
“Awareness of the challenges we face as women, the personal exposure we endure, and the lack of effective and timely safeguards against those who seek to silence us, must be strengthened in order to reassure women that serving their community will not hinder their professional, personal and family life.
“I would like to thank everyone who has supported me in my roles and pay particular tribute to my much-missed colleague, Terry O’Neill, without whose guidance, I would not have succeeded in protecting the most vulnerable and making Warrington a better place to live, work and enjoy.
“I look forward to serving out the rest of my term and continuing to support my colleagues in campaigning for a Labour administration in May and Labour government when the time comes.
“Thank you.”
Her decision comes the day after leader Cllr. Bowden announced he would not be standing next May.

Here is my letter to Warrington confirming that I’m not seeking re-election in May 2024 pic.twitter.com/ARGHlcrjkx

— Cathy Mitchell (@CllrCathyMitch) October 29, 2023