I have known Steve Brady and his family for many years. Steve was a personal friend of my father and in fact they were born on the same day, in the same hospital, Hedon Road Maternity home. Steve is a personal friend to myself and my own family. So, it will be with very heavy hearts that we see Councillor Stephen Brady decide to step down as Leader of the Labour Group on Hull City Council next week.

Aside from his personal kindness to myself he has led both the Labour Group on Hull City Council since 2007 and the city council for the last 10 years and under his leadership our City has been transformed. Over this time Hull has achieved great things with huge business investment brought into our area, such as the Siemens factory and them earlier this year announcing plans to expand, a very successful time as the UK City of Culture in 2017 which was something he insisted on pushing for. Our city has exceeded house building targets for over five years under this vision and plans and we’ve seen major redevelopment works across the city including Woodford Leisure Centre to improve facilities for local people to enjoy alongside other projects across East Hull. Not least the North Stand at Hull KR that he saved with grants from the European Union when the previous Lib Dem administration had messed up badly.

The Covid-19 crisis our country has experienced has been terrible, but it has also shown our community at its best, coming together to help one another in our moment of greatest need. Councillor Brady’s leadership through that time as embodied that feeling. He made sure our city was kept safe and he fought alongside myself and the other MPs to make sure this Government did the right thing for Hull.

I wish him all the best in the future and look forward to still working with him locally in East Hull as the Councillor for Southcoates Ward until he stands down for a well-deserved rest at the next local elections. I want to thank Steve personally for the tireless work he’s put in for everybody in the city no matter their political allegiance.