'It's good to be back!' Mike Bird makes sensational return as leader of Walsall Council a year after quitting
Councillor Mike Bird has sensationally returned as leader of Walsall Council - almost exactly a year after quitting the post.
The veteran councillor was re-elected at an extraordinary meeting of Walsall Council on Tuesday night (June 10), called in the wake of Councillor Garry Perry's resignation.
It will be the fifth time that Councillor Bird, 76, has led the council since he was first elected in 1980.
Councillor Bird resigned on June 4 last year, a month after he was suspended by the Conservative Party.
He said: “It’s good to be back! It has been an honour for me to represent the people of Walsall for more than 40 years.
"Walsall is my home and I want the best for the borough and the very best for Walsall people, they deserve nothing less.”
Councillor Bird had been at the helm for six years when he resigned last year. He was succeeded by Councillor Garry Perry, but he resigned last month claiming he had been subjected to "a campaign of political attrition".
Councillor Bird admitted it had been a difficult period for the council, and said it was now time to bring councillors together to tackle the challenges they faced in a united way.
"This council has achieved a great deal," he said.
"In my previous period as council leader we were recognised as the most improved council in the country in 2024," he said.
"An independent review by our peers in local government praised this council for doing the right things and for making good progress. I want us to build on that.
“Our residents are at the heart of what we do. We are here to serve the residents and businesses of the borough. We are ambitious for Walsall and my priority as leader of this council is to enable us to achieve those ambitions.”
Councillor Bird paid tribute to Councillor Adrian Andrew for his tenure as acting leader following Councillor Perry's resignation.
"He has enabled the smooth transition to the decision we have now achieved,” he said.
Councillor Andrew will now resume his role as deputy leader.
