New leader of Sunderland Conservatives announced after top man stands down

Antony Mullen has been confirmed as the new head of the Sunderland Conservatives group on Sunderland City Council.

He replaces Coun Robert Oliver, who has quit the role and is also due to stand down from the council at the 2021 local elections.

“The vacancy came up and there was an opportunity,” said Coun Mullen, who was also deputy leader of the group under Coun Oliver.

“I’ve been involved in a number of things in the city: the policy on DBS checks for councillors; reductions to councillor allowances; opposition to free meals for councillors.”

Setting out his planned approach, Coun Mullen hinted at a possible change in tactics from the group’s current regime.

He added: “We will scrutinise Labour and expose failings where they are wrong and support the things we think are in the best interests of the city.”

Coun Mullen was elected to represent the city’s Barnes ward in 2018.

In the run up to polling day he was also briefly suspended by his own party after historic tweets were unearthed, including one in which he referred to Sunderland as a ‘post-apocalyptic ****hole’.

He was later reinstated after an investigation by the party, and chosen to be the group’s press officer.

Fellow opposition group the Liberal Democrats have called for Mullen to stand down, branding the comments ‘truly shameful’.

Coun Mullen responded saying: “In the two years since these claims were investigated and disproven, Lib Dem councillors have not hesitated to ask me to support them in committees when it comes to voting, so I see this as mere faux outrage and hypocrisy on their part.”

Reflecting on his decision to vacate the top job, outgoing group leader Coun Oliver said: “I have decided to step down as a councillor from May next year and as Conservative group leader now because my future plans take me out of the city.

“So I have decided it’s time to move on and I will do that at the end of my term as a councillor.

“I wish Antony all the best, I think he will be a very effective group leader and I will be fully supportive of him.”

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