Key Points
- New Leadership Formed: Councillor Akhtar Zaman has officially been elected as the new Leader of Bolton Council for the 2026/27 municipal year following a high-stakes Annual Meeting.
- Coalition of Support: Cllr Zaman, representing the Labour Group, secured the leadership through a broad coalition of votes from Labour, the Liberal Democrats, Horwich and Blackrod First Independents (HBFI), and other independent councillors.
- Predecessor Ousted: The leadership vote follows the recent local elections which left the town temporarily leaderless after former council leader Nick Peel lost his seat to Reform UK.
- Political Opposition: Cllr Nadim Muslim, leader of the Bolton Conservatives, stood against Cllr Zaman in the vote, supported by Conservative colleagues who warned of political division and potential tax hikes.
- Historic Milestone: Cllr Zaman has an extensive political career in Bolton, having previously served as Deputy Leader, Executive Cabinet Member for Regeneration, and making history as the borough’s first Asian and first Muslim Mayor.
- Deputy Leader Confirmed: Alongside the top spot, Councillor Martyn Donaghy has been officially appointed to serve as the Deputy Leader of Bolton Council.
- Strategic Vision: The newly formed Executive Cabinet under Cllr Zaman intends to accelerate ongoing town and district centre regeneration, improve front-line services, and maintain a green, clean, and safe borough.
- Cross-Party Friction: The election featured intense exchanges regarding backroom negotiations, with cross-party dynamics also shifting as Conservative Cllr Andrew Morgan won the leadership of the Planning Committee over Labour’s preferences.
Bolton (Bolton Today) May 21, 2026 - Councillor Akhtar Zaman has been elected as the new town leader of Bolton Council for the 2026/27 term, resolving a leadership vacuum triggered by a tumultuous local election. The local authority was left temporarily leaderless after the previous council chief, Nick Peel, lost his seat to Reform UK. In a crucial vote held during the local authority’s Annual Meeting on Wednesday evening, members of the council selected the veteran Labour representative to guide the borough through its next municipal phase. Cllr Zaman won the leadership through a broad political alliance, pulling in decisive votes from within the Labour Group, the Liberal Democrats, and the Horwich and Blackrod First Independents, despite facing a stiff challenge from the Conservative opposition leader, Cllr Nadim Muslim.
The political shift marks a significant milestone for local government representation in the region, positioning an experienced community figurehead back at the forefront of municipal administration. In addition to securing the top executive post, the council confirmed that Labour Councillor Martyn Donaghy will assume the position of Deputy Leader of Bolton Council. While the Labour Group holds onto executive control with 20 seats, the shifting balance of power within the chamber means the new leadership will operate in a heavily scrutinised, multi-party landscape consisting of Conservatives, Reform UK, Liberal Democrats, Greens, and independent factions.
Who is the new Bolton Council Leader Cllr Akhtar Zaman?
As documented within official municipal histories, including the Mayors of Bolton Directory, Councillor Akhtar Zaman has established a long-standing career within the borough's local government and voluntary sectors. Born in Jatria Klan in the Punjab region of Pakistan, Cllr Zaman moved to Bolton over forty years ago. He entered local politics three decades ago through his involvement in the voluntary sector and has served as a magistrate, a governor of Bolton College, and a governor of Bolton Sixth Form College. Professionally, he has accumulated over 25 years of experience as an equality, diversity, and inclusion specialist across higher education, the NHS, and central government.
His elected service spans more than two decades, having represented the Halliwell Ward from 2002 until 2023, before transitioning to represent the Queens Park and Central Ward. Throughout his tenure, he has held numerous senior executive positions, including serving as the Executive Member for Housing and Regeneration, Environmental Services, Community and Neighbourhood Services, and Corporate Resources between 2006 and 2019. He was appointed Deputy Leader of the Labour Group in May 2020 and served as the borough’s first Asian and first Muslim Mayor during the 2022/2023 civic year alongside his wife and Mayoress, Nargis. Notably, on January 20, 2023, he received King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Bolton Town Hall to mark the building’s 150th anniversary. Prior to his elevation to leader, he served as the Deputy Leader of the Council and Executive Cabinet Member for Regeneration from May 2023.
What did Cllr Akhtar Zaman say upon his election?
Addressing the council chamber immediately following the vote, as reported by journalists covering the meeting for The Bolton News, Cllr Akhtar Zaman expressed deep personal gratitude to the town that welcomed him decades prior. Cllr Zaman stated that:
“Never did I believe that I would be leader of this great town - to me, Bolton is the most beautiful place on the earth.”
He continued by offering public recognition to his predecessor, stating:
“I would like to say thank you to Nick Peel, a man of incredible talents.”
Reflecting on his personal journey from a young immigrant to the head of the municipal authority, Cllr Zaman added:
“I came to this town over forty years ago with absolutely nothing, and this town took me in and gave me everything I have today. This is the reason why I stand in front of you all. I got involved in politics when I was in the voluntary sector 30 years ago.”
Outlining the immediate governance goals for his administration, he added:
“We are going to continue the work we began in 2023 to regenerate our town. We will work for a greener, cleaner, and safer borough, where diverse communities live in peace and harmony. My door will always be open to anyone who wants to make Bolton better.”
In a formal statement subsequently published on the official Bolton Council communications portal, the newly elected leader expanded on his vision for local governance, stating:
“I would like to thank those councillors who supported me and I will repay that faith by making sure we are focused on standing up for local people, supporting our communities, and working every day to deliver a fairer, safer, and better Bolton.”
He pointed to current visible infrastructure improvements, noting:
“While the hard work begins here, we've already got reasons to be proud, as we are seeing real progress in strengthening neighbourhoods, and improving the frontline services people depend on every day. Thanks to the investment and direct intervention of this council our town and district centres are being transformed in front of our eyes.”
Cllr Zaman concluded by emphasising cross-party cooperation, stating:
“All of this work is underpinned by strategies and policies designed to create a renewed sense of pride and optimism amongst our residents and showcase the very best of Bolton to a global audience. I'll work with anyone who shares that ambition, because what matters now is delivering real, visible change for the people of Bolton.”
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Why was a new leader required for Bolton Council?
The leadership selection became an urgent constitutional requirement following the local government elections on May 7, which left the authority functionally headless. As reported in an overview by the political desk of About Manchester, the Bolton Labour Group was forced to rapidly elect a new internal leader after the sitting Council Leader, Nick Peel, lost his seat to a candidate from Reform UK. Following that initial internal vote, the Labour Group issued a statement saying:
“Bolton Labour Group has elected Councillor Akhtar Zaman as Leader of the Labour Group, with Councillor Martyn Donaghy elected as Deputy Leader. We would like to thank Councillor Nick Peel for his leadership, dedication and service to Bolton Labour and to communities across the borough.”
The group acknowledged the difficult electoral climate, adding:
“The Labour Group understands the need to listen, reflect and rebuild trust with residents across Bolton. Akhtar and Martyn will lead a Labour team focused on standing up for local people, supporting our communities, and working every day to deliver a fairer, safer and better Bolton.”
Because no single political party holds an absolute majority on the council, the internal party selection had to face a subsequent confirmation vote by all elected members at the subsequent Annual Meeting to determine who would legally take the reins of the town hall.
Why did the Conservative Party oppose the election?
The election was not a mere formality, as the Bolton Conservatives put forward their own group leader, Councillor Nadim Muslim, to challenge Labour’s nomination. As detailed by The Bolton News, the opposition bench mounted a sharp critique of how the council had been run since Labour returned to power in 2023. Proposing the conservative candidate, Conservative Councillor Hilary Fairclough drew a stark contrast between previous administrations and the current climate.
As reported by the press table, Cllr Fairclough stated that:
“Throughout our time in power, we believed fairness mattered more than political control. Since Labour have returned to power, much of that spirit has been eroded.”
Turning to the wider chamber to appeal for votes, she remarked:
“Today, I ask all parties to consider this: Do you want every ward treated equally, and do you want a leader who will unite us rather than divide us? If the answer is yes, I urge you to vote for Nadim Muslim.”
How did the independent councillors react to the leadership contest?
The debate quickly exposed fractures and tactical disagreements regarding how opposition parties communicated prior to the meeting. Councillor David Grant, representing the Horwich and Blackrod First Independents (HBFI), explicitly questioned the transparency and timing of the Conservative bid for leadership. Cllr Grant stated that:
“We found out that Cllr Muslim wanted to be leader about an hour ago. We've had no discussion, no talks, we don't know what his policies are. I will be supporting Cllr Zaman as leader of the council.”
This assertion drew a sharp retort from the Conservative nominee. Retaliating during the live session, Cllr Nadim Muslim stated that:
“We did meet the leader of HBFI, so to say we never met is not strictly true. I think it's very brave considering there is a by-election coming up in Horwich. All HBFI are doing is propping up the Labour party, which usually means higher taxes.”
Despite the vocal back-and-forth, the coalition composed of Labour, Liberal Democrats, and independent members held firm, while several other representatives, including the entirety of the Bolton Green Party contingent, chose to abstain from the final vote.
Who has been appointed to the new Executive Cabinet?
Following his confirmation as council leader, Cllr Zaman formally structured his Executive Cabinet to manage specific local government portfolios for the upcoming municipal year. According to the structural data published by Bolton Council's democratic services branch, the operational cabinet will comprise the following appointments:
Executive Cabinet Membership 2026/27
- Leader of Bolton Council: Cllr Akhtar Zaman
- Deputy Leader: Cllr Martyn Donaghy
- Highways, Transport and Regulatory Services: Cllr Nadeem Ayub
- Children's Services: Cllr Rabiya Jiva
- Adults Social Care Housing: Cllr Sean Fielding
- Health and Wellbeing: Cllr Jackie Schofield
- Stronger Communities: Cllr Hamid Khurram
- Culture: Cllr Debbie Newall
- Climate Change and Environmental Services: Cllr Robert Morrisey
What happened during the Planning Committee vote?
While the Labour Group successfully secured the overall leadership of the executive branch, the delicate balance of power within the council chamber shifted rapidly during subsequent committee appointments. In a notable departure from the executive vote, the leadership of the highly influential Bolton Planning Committee saw a cross-party alliance diverge from Labour's preferences.
During the debate, Conservative Councillor Andrew Morgan was nominated to head the committee, receiving vocal backing from opposition benches. Aligning with the Conservative nomination, Conservative Group Leader Cllr Martyn Cox stated that:
“My thoughts are - we do need strong leadership on that committee. For me, I'm actually in agreement with Cllr Muslim - I'm sure it's going to be one of the very few times this year. I will be voting for Cllr Morgan.”
Despite counter-speeches delivered by Labour Councillor John McHugh and the newly confirmed council leader, Cllr Zaman, the opposition consensus prevailed. Cllr Morgan successfully secured a broad range of votes from Conservative, Green, Reform UK, and independent councillors, winning the chairmanship of the Planning Committee. Following the completion of the individual votes, the full constitutional framework for Bolton Council's 2026/27 municipal year was formally ratified through a unanimous vote of the chamber.