Bury Conservative group confirm Shadow Cabinet for 2025/26 municipal year

Thursday, 8 May 2025 13:55

By Adam Clark

Bury Conservative group has confirmed its shadow cabinet for the upcoming 2025/26 council year, with Cllr Jack Rydeheard the only member not to keep his position.

The group want to focus Cllr Rydeheard's time on retaining his Elton ward seat at next year's local elections

Cllr Russell Bernstein will remain as leader of the group, and is going into his fourth year in the role.

Cllr Jo Lancaster continues as Cllr Bernstein's deputy and will take up the new brief of Shadow Cabinet member for Children’s Services and Skills, previously held by Cllr Luis McBriar, who will move to Cllr Lancaster's brief of Health and Adult Social Care.

Two councillors will join the shadow cabinet, Cllr Iain Gartside will become Shadow Cabinet member for Housing and Culture in a newly combined role. Housing was a part of Cllr Rydeheard's position, whilst Culture was a part of Cllr Bernstein's brief.

The other half of Cllr Rydeheard's previous position will be taken up by Cllr Shahbaz Arif, who will be shadow cabinet member for Environment and Communities, the second half of this role was previously held by Cllr Dene Vernon who will remain as Whip & Operations, as well as taking on the finance brief, which no Conservative group member held last year.

Speaking on his re-election and cabinet appointments, Cllr Russell Bernstein said:

"I am delighted to confirm that I have been re-elected as Conservative Group Leader. I want to thank my councillor colleagues for their continued support and I look forward to spearheading the Conservative fight back in regaining the trust and confidence of the people of Bury.

"I have taken this opportunity as we move towards the 2026 Local Elections to undertake an extensive reshuffle of the Shadow Cabinet.

"Myself and Councillor Rydeheard have agreed that as we want to maximise his available time to concentrate on retaining his Elton seat next year that he won’t be in the Shadow Cabinet. I want to thank Jack for all his work as Housing and Environment spokesperson during the last municipal year."

Cllr's Roger Brown, Jackie Harris & Khalid Hussain will be on the back benches for the party.

Bury Council will hold its annual council meeting and Mayor making ceremony on May 18th.

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