Foulkes new leader of Wirral Council ...here's the debate as it happened

May 23 2011

A CRUCIAL vote  decided the next leader of Wirral Council when councillors met at Wallasey Town Hall tonight.

Labour  called a vote of no confidence in Conservative leader Jeff Green after becoming the largest party in the council in the local elections.

To win, they needed either the outright support of the Lib Dems - who are down to nine seats after poor election results and the defection of Cllr Steve Niblock to Labour - or for them to abstain.

Last week new Lib Dem leader Tom Harney said they intended to abstain in the vote - which would hand the council leadership to Labour leader Steve Foulkes.

 Our reporter Lorna Hughes was tweeting updates from the council meeting in the build-up and while it was underway.

You can follow her updates here - and those of other Twitter users -  as the debate unfolded.

To continue the conversation, use the  hashtag #wleader