A NEW Labour and Liberal Democrat joint administration took control of a borough on Wednesday night.

The partnership between the two parties was approved at the annual meeting of Burnley Council which had been left ‘hung’ after May 6’s local elections.

The move makes new Labour group boss Cllr Afrasiab Anwar the borough’s first South Asian heritage political boss.

He was elected despite his party, which had run Burnley Council as a minority administration since September following the collapse of the previous multi-party coalition, losing four councillors in the local elections.

The polls left Labour with with 18 councillors with 23 needed to form a majority administration.

The Lib Dems, with eight, agreed to support Cllr Anwar and Labour to retain control in return for its deputy leader Cllr Maggie Lishman taking a seat on its executive responsible for health.

The two parties have signed a written partnership agreement.

The Conservatives with nine councillors and the Burnley and Padiham Independent Party with five abstained in the vote but the five Green councillors voted against the new regime.

Cllr Anwar said: “We have done the responsible thing for Burnley residents. We will work with Liberal Democrat colleagues to carry through the programme we have agreed with them.

“During this difficult time what the borough needs is strong leadership and stability. I hope and believe this partnership will become a platform to unite it.”

Cllr Gordon Birtwistle, leader of the Lib Dems said: “This is about putting people before politics rather than fighting tired old party battles. I have always believed that parties should work together and put party differences behind them when necessary. I am particularly pleased that Maggie Lishman will have a major role.”

Former Labour group leader Cllr Mark Townsend was confirmed as Mayor of Burnley succeeding Wajid Khan who has become a member of the House of Lords.