WIRRAL'S Green Party has announced a joint leadership following local election victories last week.

Cllr Pat Cleary and Cllr Jo Bird are at the head of the expanded group of 13 as the party continues its approach of using a co-leader model.

Cllr Cleary was elected for a fourth time as councillor for Birkenhead and Tranmere in the recent elections. He has nine years of experience as a councillor and currently chairs the Pensions Committee which oversees the £11b Merseyside Pension Fund.

Cllr Bird, who was was expelled by the Labour Party in 2021, has represented Bromborough, Port Sunlight and New Ferry since 2018 and was resoundingly re-elected by 57% of voters.

Cllr Cleary said: "Last week's results saw 22% of Wirral residents vote Green representing another landmark performance by our party.

"I’m incredibly excited to have such an outstanding team of colleagues and by the huge potential the Green Party has to further expand our impact and support going forward. Myself, Jo and the whole team will be working hard over the next year and beyond to show how effective we can be in making Wirral a fairer, greener borough”

Cllr Bird added: “Only the Green Party offers policies to tackle rampant levels of inequality on the Wirral and address multiple threats to our environment, such as investment in warm home insulation, support for public transport, walking and cycling, protecting public services and promoting the Real Living Wage, preserving our greenbelt and green spaces, with zero carbon regeneration of brownfield land."