THE deputy leader of Warrington Borough Council Cllr Cathy Mitchell has confirmed she too will not stand for re-election.

It comes a day after Cllr Russ Bowden, a Labour representative for Birchwood ward for 13 years, and council leader for the past five years, announced he would not be seeking re-election next May.

Cllr Mitchell, a fellow Labour councillor representing Burtonwood and Winwick ward, confirmed her decision, like Cllr Bowden, in an open letter addressed to Warrington on her social media channels this evening, Sunday.

Despite not giving any firm reason behind her decision, she referenced the ‘challenges and exposure’ women receive, and said that the decision was a difficult one.

It comes a week after the town's Conservatives called for both to resign over the state of the council's finances.

In her letter, Cllr Mitchell said: “Representing the area where I live and serving as the deputy leader of Warrington Borough Council has been the honour of my life.

“I feel that I have made a difference for Burtonwood and Winwick; from setting up and leading a community bus scheme to successfully pressing for additional regular bus routes, to our NHS survey improving primary care services, new paths and cycleways to Omega, and negotiating to bring forward the Parkside Link Road ahead of any development on the site.

“As deputy leader with responsibility for finance, I am proud to have balanced our budget year after year, despite the Conservatives in Westminster cutting over £205million from Warrington's finances.

“Chairing the board of our municipal bus company as it enters a new era with an all-electric bus fleet and state-of-the-art depot, alongside stewarding our council's own housing company as it builds truly affordable green homes on brownfield sites in the town, fills me with immense pride.

“Now more than ever, we need more women entering politics at all levels to ensure our voices are heard.

“Sadly, I have taken the difficult decision not to seek re-election in May 2024.

Warrington Guardian: Warrington Borough Council leader Cllr Russ BowdenWarrington Borough Council leader Cllr Russ Bowden (Image: Newsquest)

“Awareness of the challenges we face as women, the personal exposure we endure, and the lack of effective and timely safeguards against those who seek to silence us, must be strengthened in order to reassure women that serving their community will not hinder their professional, personal and family life.

“I would like to thank everyone who has supported me in my roles and pay particular tribute to my much-missed colleague, Terry O'Neill, without whose guidance, I would not have succeeded in protecting the most vulnerable and making Warrington a better place to live, work and enjoy.

“I look forward to serving out the rest of my term and continuing to support my colleagues in campaigning for a Labour administration in May and Labour government when the time comes.

Giving reasons for his decision, Cllr Bowden referenced the strain from a prosecution brought against him which he says was ‘malicious’.

Cllr Bowden was cleared and acquitted of all charges relating to alleged electoral malpractice, centred around an address used during the 2021 full council elections, by a jury following a trial at Liverpool Crown Court this May.