Alex Lee to take charge of Basingstoke's Labour group

Cllr Alex Lee, ward member for Winklebury and Manydown, was voted into the role at the group’s annual general meeting on Monday, May 13.

Cllr Lee has taken over the role from Cllr Jacky Tustain, who was elected in May 2023.

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He said: “I am grateful to Cllr Tustain for her service to the group and the leadership she brought over the last year. I hope to build on the strong foundations of the group as the leader, working in collaboration with the group’s executive committee.”

The group says that the change has come as it ‘continues to strengthen its commitment to the residents of the borough’.

In May's local election, Labour gained one seat, Winklebury, off of the Conservatives. 

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Looking to the future, Cllr Lee emphasised the importance of wider collaboration and accountability: “As we move forward, our focus will be on working constructively with the Independent and Liberal Democrat administration whilst at the same time ensuring we effectively scrutinise their work to ensure all residents of the borough receive the very best services. Over the coming months we will also be setting out how a Labour led council would make the lives of residents better with bold, forward-looking, policies.”

Chair of Basingstoke Constituency Labour Party Rosalind Bach added: “Cllr Alex Lee will make the best possible Group Leader to lead our councillors on the council into the General Election. Basingstoke deserves better than the Tories and I look forward to working closely with Cllr Lee to elect Luke Murphy as the first Labour MP for Basingstoke.”