REDDITCH Labour has selected councillor Andy Fry as its new leader to take the party forward.

Labour councillors chose the Lodge Park ward councillor after former leader Bill Hartnett lost his seat in the borough council elections last week.

During the group's annual meeting, councillor Debbie Chance was elected as deputy leader, councillor Wanda King was elected as deputy chair and Jenny Wheeler as group whip.

Andy Fry said: “The results last Thursday were a disappointment for the Labour Party in Redditch but with a 31 per cent share of the vote we have a role in scrutinising and putting forward alternative policies based on our manifesto and values, not only for our supporters, but for those who for whatever reason didn’t vote and may feel disenfranchised with politics at the moment.

"Our role will be to build on our support and work towards success in the next elections.”

Paying tribute to colleagues who lost their seats, councillor Fry added: “To lose such an array of talent in Bill Hartnett, Greg Chance and Joe Baker has led us to rethink our priorities as we plan the way forward.

"As our town recovers from the devastating effects of Covid, I see the role of Redditch Labour to ensure that everyone in our town reaps the benefits of building back fairer, to ensure that funding is targeted where it’s needed most and to support our voluntary groups who have worked tirelessly to support our community.”