Trouble in Angela Rayner's backyard as Labour sends party officials to fix crisis-hit council

Labour is sending party officials to Angela Rayner's backyard in a move that could see her local council leader ousted.

The national party has accused Tameside council's ruling Labour group of 'unacceptable working practice' after a series of damning reports into its children's services. A 'campaign improvement board' will now be set up to bring about the 'culture change' needed.

It follows the departure of the council's chief executive, Sandra Stewart, who quit this week amid long-standing failures within the authority's children's services. Local MPs Ms Rayner, Jonathan Reynolds and Andrew Gwynne have all welcomed the resignation.

READ MORE: A council in crisis as children suffer

The Manchester Evening News understands the three Tameside MPs - who are all government ministers - had been calling for Ms Stewart's departure. The national party's intervention in the local Labour group could now result in a change of political leadership.

Tameside council leader Ged Cooney told the M.E.N. he is willing to step down if the party concludes it is the best decision. He said: "If that happens, it happens. I'm not precious about it. It's about the children. For some people, it's about who's the next leader.

"But if they're saying, 'Ged, it's over,' I'm not precious. I don't expect to be leader for the rest of my life. I'm too old."

The Labour Party's intervention will focus on the political leadership at the council. The party has taken similar steps in Liverpool, Sheffield and most recently in Birmingham, months before the local authority effectively declared itself bankrupt last September.

The move could mean the national party picks a new council leader, as it did in Birmingham last year, taking the decision away from local