History has tonight been made in Newcastle as the city council appointed its first ever female leader.
Leader of Newcastle Labour, Cllr Karen Kilgour’s appointment to the position of leader was ratified by members attending this evening’s full council meeting at the Civic Centre.
On her appointment, Karen said said: “It is the honour of my life to be able to lead the city I love and stand up for the people who call Newcastle home.
“I also want to take this opportunity to thank Cllr Kemp for all his hard work during his time as leader, and for the personal support he has shown to me. I know how much he cares about this city.
“It gives me great pride to be first woman to hold this important position. Newcastle is a city that has continually shown that women can rise to the very top, holding a number of important roles across the public, private and community sectors.
“While we’re fortunate to live in an incredibly forward-thinking and inclusive city, I am determined to stand for all those who have previously been, and continue to be, marginalised for characteristics beyond their control.
“It is an exciting time for Newcastle and the wider region, with the formation of the new North East Combined Authority presenting opportunities for the North East to thrive.
“However, there are challenges affecting residents across the city, and I look forward to working with residents, businesses, communities, and partners to help Newcastle be the best version of itself.
“There is a lot of hard work ahead of us, and I look forward to the challenge of uniting our city and supporting council officers in putting residents at the heart of everything we do.”