Robert Gorrie, LibDem Council Group Leader on Haringey has told us that he will be stepping down as Leader at the AGM next Month. A new leader will be elected at that point.

Robert has been such a great leader for our LibDem group – I am very sorry to see him go – but totally understand that there are other demands in life that dictate what happens. And Robert wanted to step down now so as to leave plenty of time for the new leader to prepare for the next local elections in 2014, when the Lib Dems will be campaigning to overturn over 40 years of Labour rule. He hands over one of the strongest and largest Liberal Democrat groups in London.

Robert was first elected to Haringey Council in Hornsey in May 2006, where a big swing to the Liberal Democrats wiped out Labour from Hornsey ward. He took on the leadership of the Liberal Democrat group in 2008.

Since then, Robert has been successful in spearheading the scrutiny of the Labour Council over the tragic death of Baby Peter, which saw the resignation of senior Labour figures. He had also led the group in highlighting Labour’s financial disasters and mismanagement such as the £37million of local taxpayers’ money frozen in Icelandic Banks. This year, he has provided robust alternatives to Labour’s decision to close older people’s day care centres and cut youth services by 75 per cent.

He was also key in my successful re-election as the Liberal Democrat MP for Hornsey and Wood Green, with an increased majority.

I wish him all the very best for the future.