Tameside Council boss Roy Oldham ousted after 30 years

Roy Oldham (left) is being replaced by Kieran Quinn

Britain's longest-serving council chief has been deposed following a vote by fellow Labour party councillors.

Councillor Roy Oldham has led Labour-controlled Tameside Council, in Greater Manchester, for 30 years.

On Sunday, the party voted to replace their 75-year-old leader - elected in May 1980 - with Droylsden East councillor Kieran Quinn.

The decision is expected to be rubber-stamped at Tameside's next full council meeting on 25 May.

Leader tribute

Speaking after the vote, Mr Quinn said: "It's a magnificent honour to have been asked by my peers in the Labour group in Tameside to be their next leader of the council.

"I've got to give a huge amount of respect to Roy Oldham for the last 30 years service that he has given.

"What I've been asked by my colleagues is to take the baton forward and continue to deliver for the people in Tameside the best services we possibly can for the future."

Mr Quinn said his focus was now on steering the council, which has been Labour controlled for 30 years, through the "severe cuts" in public spending likely to be imposed by the new government.

Mr Oldham, who was re-elected as councillor for Longdendale at the recent local elections, has not yet commented.

He was involved in the creation of the metropolitan borough council and in 2000 was awarded a CBE for his services to local government.