DAVID Baines, the leader of St Helens Borough Council, will step down next month so that he can begin preparations for his campaign ahead of the next general election.

Councillor Baines, who has led the council since 2019, announced he will stand down in May to allow Labour to complete an "orderly transition".

The new leader will be selected at the Labour group's annual general meeting, with cabinet members Richard McCauley, Anthony Burns and Seve Gomez-Aspron among those who could come under consideration.

Cllr Baines, meanwhile, will shift focus to his campaign for the general election, which could take place at some point in 2024.

He was selected as the Labour candidate for St Helens North last year. Conor McGinn, who currently sits as an independent MP in St Helens after leaving the Labour party, will not contest the next general election.

Councillor Baines will also continue his role as a Windle ward councillor for the foreseeable future

In a statement confirming his decision, Councillor Baines, who has led the council through Covid-19 and the cost-of-living crisis, said: "I have had the privilege and responsibility of leading the council since 2019.

"We’ve faced significant challenges in that time - Covid, the cost of living crisis, continued underfunding of essential public services, and a recession.

"In the midst of those difficulties, in my time as leader we set up St Helens Together to support communities through the pandemic and beyond; we’ve improved Children’s Services taking them from ‘inadequate’ to ‘good’ with services for care leavers now rated ‘outstanding’; protected as many frontline care services as possible for our most vulnerable residents; agreed a Local Plan that protects the vast majority of our green and open space while also being ambitious for the homes, jobs and infrastructure we need; delivered plans and funding for the significant regeneration of St Helens and Earlestown town centres; begun the regeneration of the former Parkside colliery and secured Freeport status for the site; delivered Glass Futures; rebuilt schools; opened new Family Hubs; secured Town Deal funding for St Helens and Newton-le-Willows, and much more.

"But like the majority of households, local businesses, and other public services, the council has also had to make some painful decisions because of what the Tories are doing to communities like ours.

"Things won’t change unless we get a Labour government which values public services and the people they serve, and that’s why I’m standing for Parliament as Labour’s candidate for St Helens North.

"As we approach the general election, that campaign and my role as candidate will require more of my focus.

"The Labour Group and full council Annual General Meetings take place in the next few weeks, and the time is right for me to step aside as leader at those meetings to ensure a smooth and orderly transition for the council.

He added: "It has been an incredible honour to lead the council of the place I am proud to call home. I’ve been fortunate to work with lots of fantastic people who are deeply passionate about our communities – councillors, council staff, residents, businesses, and partner organisations. Working together there’s little we can’t do, and I’ll be giving it my all to make sure we get the Labour government we need to truly fulfil our potential."