UPDATE: |Nadim Muslim selected as new leader of Bolton Conservatives News

Coun Muslim it was ‘an absolute honour and privilege ‘ to take on the role as opposition leader

Conservative councillors in Bolton have selected Nadim Muslim to be their new leader. Coun Muslim, 32, who has represented the Bromley Cross ward on Bolton Council since 2018, was elected unopposed at a meeting of party colleagues on Wednesday, April 23.

Coun Muslim, who was born and raised in Bolton, succeeds Martyn Cox, a former leader of the council, who announced he would be stepping down earlier this month. Speaking after the meeting, Coun Muslim, said: “It is an absolute honour and privilege to have the unanimous backing of my group to be their next leader of Bolton Conservatives on Bolton Council.

“I’d like to thank Martyn Cox for all the work he has done, having become leader in difficult circumstances after the death of Coun David Greenhalgh. “We are a united group that is ready to do what is right for Bolton.

“Going forward, we will solely be focused on delivering for Bolton residents.

“That means we will table motions at full council that are specific to Bolton and not international disputes.

“Our time in council should be used to affect change on issues we can control domestically.

“And, of course, we are ready to work with any other party in the borough that wants to see lower council tax and better services in all our towns, just as we did when we last controlled the council.”

There are currently 15 Conservative councillors on the 60-strong council. The administration is minority Labour led as they have the highest number of members with 26. The outgoing Tory leader Martyn Cox said he would be continuing his role as a ward councillor for Heaton, Lostock and Chew Moor.

Coun Cox, who has offered his ‘full support’ to the new leader, led a Conservative administration in Bolton between 2021 and 2023. He took over as leader of both Bolton Conservatives and the council after the death of his close friend, David Greenhalgh, who died in July 2021, while holding both roles.

Since Labour took over the running of the authority in 2023, Coun Cox has led the opposition in the council chamber.