COLCHESTER Labour Group’s first female leader says the party must look forward if it is to gain more seats on the council.

Veteran councillor Tina Bourne, who has been involved in politics for more than 30 years, won the support of members in a vote to run the group.

Following her victory, former leader Tim Young, who held the role for 20 years, suggested a “coup” had been staged against him.

READ MORE: Tim Young replaced as leader of Colchester's Labour group

However, Mrs Bourne said she was keen to see the party hit the streets with a “refreshed message” and a new commitment to listen to residents.

The 52-year-old said: “I would not have put my name forward if I was not serious about the role and wanting to refresh our group and message.

“Now I am in the position I am keen to move forward, not look back, and I think it is up to me to demonstrate I can do the role.

“All our councillors want a better Colchester, we would not be doing it if we did not.

“I want to concentrate on building our group and nurturing our candidates to come through so that next year we can increase our representation on the council. We won’t be able to do that if we are looking backwards.”

Gazette: Tina Bourne, Tim Young and Julie Young on election night in 2016Tina Bourne, Tim Young and Julie Young on election night in 2016

Mrs Bourne’s mother arrived in the UK as a refugee after fleeing the Suez Crisis with her family.

She says her experience growing up on a council estate in the Eighties shaped her beliefs and meant the Labour Party was an obvious choice when she got involved in politics.

She said: “Before I was 18 when the elections came around I was canvassing.

“I was quite surprised how bitter people were towards the Government and Thatcher but also they were not that pleasant to the Labour Party.

“We used to knock on doors and get spat at. I do not know why I went back.”

But she did and has been councillor for Greenstead since 2004.

Across a diverse career she has been everything from a painter and decorator to a make-up artist. She is now deputy headteacher at St John’s Green Primary School in Colchester.

She had already decided she was going to step down from her role as councillor responsible for housing and communities before this month’s election.

However, she admits she jumped at the chance of leading the party she loves on Colchester Council and wants to bridge the gap between councillors and the public.

She said: “I never saw myself as a cabinet member, I am a girl from Greenstead, but you grow and learn a lot about yourself on the way.

“If you want things to be different you have to stand down and make way for people to come through. We have so many talents in the party and we need to utilise them.

“Julie Young will lead the Labour group in cabinet and I will lead the group, and with moving to forge a stronger relationship with the membership.”

The Labour branch’s new leadership team, which also includes Parliamentary candidate Tina McKay, also hopes to help pave the way for more female representation.

She said: “When I first joined the council it was male and stale although it is a bit better now.

“Every month we are getting closer to a General Election. The last one was exciting for Labour in Colchester and there is no reason why it cannot be like that again.

“We have our candidate in place early and we will be working to make that happen.”