David Sheard: 'I am no longer the leader of Kirklees Council'

The Heckmondwike councillor made the shock Twitter post last night.

The Kirklees Labour Group voted for Coun Shabir Pandor, who was re-elected in his Batley West last week, to take Coun Sheard’s place on Monday evening.

Labour member 52 years Coun Sheard posted a second tweet which read: “What really surprises me is how well so many people could lie within hours of the Group Meeting.”

Speaking today, he said: “The group decided to vote to go a different way.

“It was a bit of a shock. I knew that the plotting was going on but there were numbers of people who told me they were going to vote for me even two hours before the meeting.

“Not one person came to me before and told me I was doing things wrong.”

Coun Sheard said the decision has also come as a relief because of the tough decisions he had to make while in control.

He now wants to concentrate on ward work and enjoying his biking.

“It’s a hell of a difficult job,” he said.

But he said that “we have plotted a way out of the mess we’re in with the cuts.”

Shabir Pandor has not yet been reached for comment.