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Former council leader takes charge of group

Emma Howgego
BBC political reporter, Peterborough
Peterborough First Mohammed Farooq and Chris Harper tly hold a black book, while they stand in front of a grand staircase. The words "The City of Peterborough" are above a door behind them. Farooq is dressed in a dark suit, and Harper is wearing a blue polo shirt and navy jacket. Peterborough First
Mohammed Farooq (right) will take over from Chris Harper (left)

A former leader of Peterborough City Council has been elected to take charge of the Peterborough First group.

Mohammed Farooq will take over from fellow group member Chris Harper with immediate effect.

The political group, which is largely made up of former Conservative councillors, is currently the second largest at the authority.

Farooq led the city council for six months, from November to May. Unusually he was not leader of his political group at the time. He stepped down from the role following the Labour Party's success in the local elections.

Mohammed Farooq poses for photo alongside two men. They are all dressed in dark suits, with pink lanyard around their necks. They are standing in front of a city council election declaration poster.
Mohammed Farooq (centre) was leader of the council before the local elections in May

The council is currently run by a minority Labour istration, which has 18 councillors. Peterborough First has 14 councillors, the Conservative Party has 11, the Liberal Democrat Party has eight, the Green Party has five and there are four Independent councillors.

Peterborough First held a meeting last night and voted unanimously to elect Farooq as group leader.

His predecessor Harper announced two weeks ago he was stepping down as leader of the group.

In a statement Farooq said he was "honoured" at his election. He added that the council was "in the toughest financial position we have ever seen".

"We will hold to the istration and the council for the bad decisions and equally and enable the good decisions."

In November Farooq took on the role as city council leader after a vote of no confidence in his predecessor, the Conservative leader Wayne Fitzgerald.

Farooq was previously a councillor for the Conservative Party, but left the group to Peterborough First in June 2023.

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