COUNCIL leader Cllr Terry O’Neill has survived a leadership challenge – but party members have voted in a new deputy.

Cllr O’Neill (LAB – Burtonwood and Winwick) secured around two-thirds of the vote to remain as leader at Labour’s annual general meeting at the Town Hall on Thursday night.

It is the third year running he has won the backing of members to retain his role.

But Cllr Graham Friend (LAB – Poulton North) failed to win the backing of members and loses his deputy position to Cllr Russ Bowden (LAB – Birchwood), executive member for corporate finance.

He also won around two-thirds of the vote.

Former deputy council leader Cllr Mike Hannon was bidding to make a shock return to Labour's front bench one year after losing out to Cllr Friend.

The Orford councillor, who is the joint-longest serving member at the Town Hall after being elected in May 1983, challenged Cllr O’Neill for the leadership and also put his name forward for the deputy post.

However, before the vote he withdrew from standing for leader or deputy but has been given a committee role.

A plot led by Cllr Friend and former executive member Cllr Linda Dirir (LAB – Penketh and Cuerdley) was also carried out to secure power of the party.

A Warrington Labour spokesman said: "Under Cllr O'Neill's leadership and Cllr Bowden's firm grip of our finances, the Labour-run Warrington Borough Council has achieved many good things, including support for first-time buyers, increasing employment levels, massive regeneration of our business zones and the town centre and better support for the most vulnerable in society.

"This has all happened despite a massive £100 million cut to our budgets by the Tory Government which was hell-bent on taking money from towns like Warrington and investing it in their heartlands in the south of England.

“We will face further cuts to local services and our local NHS provision if Theresa May and the Tories get re-elected at the forthcoming General Election.

"Last year Labour took an extra five seats at the local elections and further increased its majority at the Town Hall.

"We have a lot of new talented councillors who respect the sovereignty and electoral mandate of the Labour group and it is right that they are now being promoted to senior positions to help us develop the town and fulfil our manifesto pledges."

A senior source added: "It would have been a disaster for the town if it had gone the other way."

Cllr Rebecca Knowles (LAB – Chapelford and Old Hall) has become chairman of the health scrutiny committee and Cllr Cathy Mitchell (LAB – Burtonwood and Winwick) chairman of Network Warrington.

The Warrington Guardian understands Cllr Dan Price (LAB – Great Sankey North and Whittle Hall) will replace Cllr Friend on the executive board once positions are finalised by Cllr O'Neill.

The number of roles on the executive board is due to stay the same.

Paul Taylor, managing director of Taylor Business Park, welcomed the Labour group's vote.

He said: "Terry has been a fantastic leader and I'm very happy as a businessman and Warringtonian to see him stay on.

"He's been fantastic for the town and we've thrived with him and Warrington and Co pushing the prosperity of the town forward.

"With Omega delivering again, devolution on the horizon, the town centre redevelopment and the City of Culture bid these are exciting times for Warrington."

Labour councillors also 'overwhelmingly' voted to get rid of the annual leadership contests in order to bring about 'stability and align the group's operating protocols'.

The next leadership vote will take place at the local elections in 2020 and will be every four years thereafter to coincide with all-out elections in the town.