THE Labour leader of Edinburgh District Council, Councillor Mark
Lazarowicz, yesterday formally confirmed his decision to stand down.
He will move to the back benches in May, ending a seven-year reign.
''It was the worst-kept secret in politics that Mark was giving up the
leadership,'' said a council colleague.
Councillor Lazarowicz will concentrate on his career as a lawyer. His
announcement signals the start of formal moves to replace him. Jockeying
campaigns for two contenders began behind the scenes some time ago.
The two names in the ring so far are Councillor Lesley Hinds, who is
chairman of the Labour group, and the group secretary, Councillor Frank
Russell.
Councillor Lazarowicz, 39, is credited with transforming the image of
the Labour group in Edinburgh after the departure of the previous
hard-left incumbent, Alex Wood, who enjoyed a good clash with authority,
any authority.
After Labour wrested control of the city in 1984, ''Wee Alex'' led the
council in a barricade storming style which brought it into head-on
conflict with the Government and the Edinburgh establishment. Running
the Red Flag up the flagpole of the City Chambers was the least of the
vapour-inducing actions of the erstwhile leadership.
The more emollient and pragmatic style of Mr Lazarowicz, who took over
the leadership in a 1986 soft-left coup, was in sharp contrast. He was
styled leader of the ''Sensible Tendency''. His predecessor quit the
council and the party, and went on to political oblivion.
Councillor Lazarowicz, however, managed to build a more cohesive
Labour group, less clique-ridden and less inclined to scare the more
conservatively minded.
But Councillor Lazarowicz had his critics within the Labour group.
Some accused him of epitomising the party's sharply grey-suited
Kinnockite faction. He tried twice and failed to unseat Defence
Secretary Malcolm Rifkind from his Pentlands seat.
Announcing his decision to step down as leader yesterday at the annual
meeting of the Edinburgh District Labour Party, he said: ''Having given
up my job eight years ago to concentrate on my council duties, I now
wish to develop my own personal career outside the council. But I will
be staying active in politics as councillor for my Wester Hailes North
ward.
''I am glad to have led a council which has been at the forefront of
progressive local government, a council which invested heavily in
housing, arts and recreation, and environmental services.''
Edinburgh's Labour council had placed emphasis on creating a sound
economic base for future employment in the city, he said, and had for
the first time promoted Edinburgh as a leading European city.
''I am also pleased at the way in which the council has operated an
open style of government in parnership with the wider community.''
Councillor Lazarowicz is credited with skilfully developing harmonious
relations with the business community through joint initiatives to sell
the city.
His negotiating strengths were never more needed than after the last
district elections, when Labour lost the balance of power on the council
but managed to maintain its position as the dominant party by persuading
the two SNP members to support its policies.
The price was the role of Lord Provost, which was given to SNP
Councillor Norman Irons.
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