THE Labour leader of Cheshire East Council insists he we will work with the borough’s five Conservative MPs ‘for the benefit of residents’ following last week’s election.

Cllr Sam Corcoran was questioned at CEC’s full council meeting about comments he made in a letter sent to local newspapers across the borough regarding the General Election on December 12.

In that letter, he wrote: “I find myself in the remarkable position of being the Labour leader of CEC when all five of the MPs covering Cheshire East are now Conservative.”

Fiona Bruce in Congleton, Esther McVey in Tatton and David Rutley in Macclesfield held their seats for the Conservatives last week.

Meanwhile, Edward Timpson was elected in Eddisbury and Kieran Mullan won Crewe and Nantwich for the Tories.

Cllr Arthur Moran said: “In [Cllr Corcoran’s] letter he gives reasons why the Labour Party actually lost the election – or tries to give reasons.

Knutsford Guardian:

“Can I ask the leader of the council – is he going to accept the result of the General Election, and will he work with our five Conservative MPs in the best interests of the people of Cheshire East and this council?”

Cllr Moran’s comments were met with applause from the Conservative side of the chamber – and the party’s group leader also wanted assurances that the administration would work with local MPs.

Cllr Janet Clowes said: “In light of last week’s definitive General Election results, please may I ask that the administration doesn’t just wait on the phone call that you’ve made.

Knutsford Guardian:

“But reinstates the regular, collective meetings with the five MPs that represent this borough in order that this council can collectively, and effectively, lobby central Government in the interest of residents.”

Responding to the questions, Cllr Corcoran said: “I have already emailed all five of the MPs for this area to congratulate them on their election, or in some cases re-election, and in one case election in a different constituency.

“I do look forward to working productively for the benefit of all residents with the MPs for this borough.

“I included in that email an invitation to set up meetings. There are questions about whether I meet them individually, whether I meet them with Cllr Craig Browne, or whether we meet all five together.

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“But I do wish to work with all MPs for the benefit of the residents of Cheshire East, and I would add that I have already met the MPs prior to the election for the area.”

The Sandbach councillor had already come in for criticism from some of his own party colleagues for comments he made in the letter.

In particular, he suggested it is ‘noteworthy’ that local Labour MPs – including Laura Smith of Crewe and Nantwich – ‘who broke the party line and voted in favour of Boris [Johnson’s] Brexit Bill in Parliament all lost their seats’.

Cllr Suzanne Brookfield, one of four current CEC councillors to comment on Twitter responding to the letter, wrote: “I am very disappointed to see this. Laura Smith was an excellent constituency MP.

Knutsford Guardian:

“The result here was nothing at all to do with her actions. Her stance has been proved right in my opinion. Ultimately electorate wanted Brexit to be done.”