Welwyn Hatfield council leader Max Holloway to resign over election dispute
The Labour leader says he's stepping down after coalition disagreements.
Last updated 29th Jan 2026
Max Holloway, Labour leader of Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council, has announced his resignation following a disagreement over the decision to postpone local elections.
Cllr Holloway, who has led a Labour-Liberal Democrat coalition since May 2024, will step down on 6th February 2026. A new leader is expected to be elected at a full council meeting on the same day.
Recent months have seen criticism from Liberal Democrat members within the administration after the Labour-led cabinet twice made decisions against the wishes of the majority of council members. These disagreements centred around local government reorganisation and delaying May’s local elections.
Both issues had been debated in non-binding votes at full council meetings before the cabinet’s final decisions.
Cllr Holloway supported postponing the elections, claiming it would prevent distractions while preparing for Hertfordshire’s local government reorganisation. This process will involve replacing existing district, borough, and county councils with new unitary authorities managing all services within the region.
The Liberal Democrats triggered the dispute clause in the Joint Administration Agreement on 16th January. While conversations between Labour and Liberal Democrat groups are ongoing, Cllr Holloway said he “hopes that an agreement can be reached in the coming days.”
In a statement announcing his resignation, he said he was stepping down to “remove any potential for distraction from the important task at hand,” referring to the challenges presented by the reorganisation.
“Leadership often requires making difficult choices – and this time it’s the choice to put what is right for your local community above your own position or political aspirations,” he said.
“Our community’s needs must always come first. As a local boy, born and raised in Welwyn Garden City, serving this borough has been the privilege of my life.”
Cllr Tony Kingsbury, leader of the council’s Conservative group, criticised the Labour cabinet’s decisions on reorganisation and election delays, describing them as “fundamental to democratic accountability.”
“For the Labour party leadership to vote against that expressed will showed a disregard for the authority of council,” he said. “The subsequent resignation speaks for itself.”
Cllr Jane Quinton, Liberal Democrat deputy council leader, has been contacted for comment.
Currently, the council is comprised of 17 Labour councillors, 16 Liberal Democrats, 11 Conservatives, two Greens, one independent, and one vacancy following the death of Cllr Roger Trigg.