Birmingham City Council leader Mike Whitby has fought off a bid to overthow him at the helm of Europes biggest council.
At the council's Conservative group annual meeting yesterday, Whitby beat off a leadership bid from rival Tory, Cllr Randal Brew, in what is thought to have been a signifiant victory.
Cllr Brew launched his leadership campaign saying Whitby’s style of leadership had lost the support of backbenchers.
Local newspapers reported that Tories outside of the cabinet were furious when plans to establish a municipal bank, build an Olympic-sized swimming pool and lend Warwickshire County Cricket Club £20million for ground improvements were announced in the press before they were told about them.
There were also concerns, says the Birmingham post about the 'apparent failure of the council leader to take any notice of criticism from scrutiny committees'.
The victory means some 3000 council workers can breathe a sigh a relief as Cllr Brew had said he would cut 3000 jobs at the council if he had taken over leadership.
Cllr Whitby said: 'I am very pleased and grateful for the group’s support and look forward to continuing to lead Birmingham.'
