LGA elects ex-Bradford leader Margaret Eaton as first female chair

The Local Government Association has elected Conservative councillor Margaret Eaton as its new chair.

Eaton is the first woman to lead the LGA in its 11-year history. She was elected to the post after former chair and Westminster Council leader Simon Milton stood down to take up a full-time post working for London mayor Boris Johnson.

Eaton first became a councillor in 1986 and was the leader of Bradford Council from 2000 to 2006. Most recently she served as leader of the LGA’s Conservative group.

LGA chief executive Paul Coen said: “Margaret’s experience of leading such a diverse, urban, northern city as Bradford demonstrates the LGA’s continuing commitment to represent all councils from every part of the country regardless of political colour.”

Last year the Daily Telegraph voted Eaton at number 90 in its “Right’s 100 Most Influential” list, calling her “undoubtedly the most influential female Conservative in local government”.

Milton’s predecessor as LGA chair, Lord Sandy Bruce-Lockhart, died last month.

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