Manchester council leader Sir Richard Leese has stepped down with immediate effect after being arrested and cautioned for assaulting his stepdaughter.
Sir Richard has asked the Labour party for time out to deal with 'serious family issues'.
He said in a statement today: "I've asked the Labour group and party to allow me a necessary period of time out, as long as is needed, to resolve serious family issues.
"This request has been agreed and the deputy leaders will be taking on my responsibilities. My wife Joanne and I and our family would appreciate it if we could be left in peace during this period."
Sir Richard spent nearly 20 hours in custody after being arrested on Monday night. Police were called to his home in Crumpsall after receiving a call claiming a 16-year-old girl had been assaulted.
He was taken to Pendleton Police station in Salford where he spent the night before being questioned by officers.
Sir Richard, 58, was released just before 7pm last night. He was allowed to leave in a vehicle to avoid waiting M.E.N. photographers. It is understood he accepted a caution after striking his stepdaughter during a row, causing a small injury to her ear. Accepting a caution is an admission of guilt.
Greater Manchester Police said: “At 11pm on Monday police were called to a house in Crumpsall, following allegations a 16-year-old girl had been assaulted.
“Police attended and spoke to the girl, who had sustained a very minor injury to her ear.
“A 58-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of common assault and has been cautioned.”
Sir Richard lives in Crumpsall with his second wife Joanne Green and her two children.
Coun Pat Karney, secretary of the Manchester Labour group, said: “Coun Leese was detained late Monday night following an incident at home. He was released last night with a caution and there is no further legal action pending. This was a private family matter which the family now consider closed.”
A council spokesman said: “We consider this a private matter which we leave up to Richard to deal with with his family.”
Sir Richard was knighted in 2006 for services to local government. He was elected to the council in 1984 and was deputy leader from 1990 to 1996 before taking charge.
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Showing comments 1 to 25 and replies | View All
citizen x, manchester (14/04/2010 at 13:14)
grandmaster flash, the moon (14/04/2010 at 13:18)
The Droog, Wythenshawe (14/04/2010 at 13:24)
Clara (14/04/2010 at 13:24)
Stretford Born and Bred, Stretford (14/04/2010 at 13:30)
Brazilian hero, MANCHESTER (14/04/2010 at 13:30)
2 strikes and you are out.
Tony Manchester
minnie royle (14/04/2010 at 13:32)
PW, Manchester (14/04/2010 at 13:33)
Michael Ruffle (14/04/2010 at 13:36)
In a City that charges £75+ fro dropping a cigarette-butt it is clearly more acceptable.
Sir Richard, as figurehead of Manchester City Council, has always taken the moral high-ground when it comes to many issues - he must be considering how it feels today to find out that he is, after all, a mere mortal and that nemisis shall follow hubris.
Vote Green, Salford (14/04/2010 at 13:36)
Ignoramus, Manchester (14/04/2010 at 13:36)
"Police attended and spoke to the girl, who had sustained a very minor injury to her ear"
Sounds like he gave her a clip round the ear to me. If his daughter had been the one to go out and assualt someone you would be screaming for her to hang and blaming her parents for not being strict enough.
Then probabaly start moaning about how in your day you would have taken a slap and then never done it again.
beek inglish boy!, Manchester (14/04/2010 at 13:38)
No-body knows the facts surrounding this case but let's be clear here.
Sir Richard is an absoloute requirement when it comes to supporting Manchester and has been instrumental in putting us back on the map.
The sooner he is back in office the better for the city ,some of these comments are just stupid and ignorant regarding a man who has done so much for the city of Manchester...
Gazz (moston blue) (14/04/2010 at 13:41)
good riddance!!!
tiggerluc, somewhere in shaw (14/04/2010 at 13:42)
Theowolfe (14/04/2010 at 13:42)
When he launched a domestic abuse strategy in Manchester a few years ago did he not say: "Violence in the home will not be tolerated."
The irony.
Rt Hon Dr Rev MC Spanner MP QC FCA FRICS JP OK (14/04/2010 at 13:43)
Totty Lass (14/04/2010 at 13:43)
TREVOR THOMAS (14/04/2010 at 13:43)
Stuie72, Manchester (14/04/2010 at 13:46)
Vote Green, Salford (14/04/2010 at 13:49)
why? are we not allowed to give our opinions on the leader of manchester council stepping down? damn, can i get your phone number so i can ring you in the future to check if im allowed to express my opinion?
Shake n Bake, Talladega (14/04/2010 at 13:51)
Stuie72, Manchester
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Why do you want us to be able to comment on every other story but not this one?
I know a lot of the facts on this story. Important ones for me are that this man launched a domestic abuse strategy and then gets done for assault. Should have stuck him in the dock for double standards.
Red or Dead, Manchester (14/04/2010 at 13:54)
Clara (14/04/2010 at 13:54)
TheDucks, Manchester (14/04/2010 at 13:55)
Although I disagree with his Politics this site should not ridicule him for his political beliefes.
Allow the family time to recover from this awful ordeal.
Black Flag (14/04/2010 at 13:59)
People comment on the same basis on most stories, which generally concern people who are completely unknown to the general public, so I don’t see why it is only on a story concerning a public figure who has deliberately chosen to put himself in a public position, that people suggest restricting comment. It is completely back to front.
He admitted to committing a crime and he’s resigned from a public office as a result. He’s fair game for comment.