WARRINGTON'S two MPs have responded after it was confirmed that Cllr Russ Bowden will become the next council leader.

Cllr Bowden (LAB – Birchwood), who is the current deputy leader and executive board member for corporate finance, secured the support of the Labour group in a vote at the Town Hall on Thursday.

He will formally be elected as leader at the next full council meeting on December 17.

Warrington North MP Helen Jones has called on Cllr Bowden to prioritise tackling the ‘huge deprivation gap’ across the town.

She said: “The council should be promoting initiatives to tackle health, education and employment deprivation, not least by insisting that all the organisations it has contracts with pay the real Living Wage.

“I would also like to see a commitment that any possible development on Peel Hall will not be included in the next local plan, should the current planning application be rejected.”

Warrington South MP Faisal Rashid says he is delighted that Cllr Bowden has been selected as the new leader.

He added: “I have no doubt that Russ will work tirelessly on behalf of Warrington residents and that he will always keep what is best for our town at the heart of any decision he makes.

“Looking to the future, I have pledged to work alongside Russ to ensure greater openness and engagement with Warrington residents on the issues affecting our town.

“I also hope to work with him on a number of new initiatives in the Warrington South constituency.

“I am very much looking forward to working with Russ as Warrington’s new council leader and I wish him the very best of luck in his new role.”