Peter Mason Elected LGA Labour Leader Succeeding Bev Craig Ealing 2026

Key Points

• Councillor Peter Mason, current leader of Ealing Council, has been elected as the leader of the Local Government Association (LGA) Labour Group.
• He succeeds Bev Craig, who vacated the post after being elected Mayor of Greater Manchester on 30 July 2026 following Andy Burnham’s return to Parliament and subsequent elevation to Labour leader and Prime Minister.
• The position designates Councillor Mason as “Labour’s leader in Local Government” and places him as the senior vice-chair of the cross-party LGA, which represents local authorities across England and Wales.
• The previous postholder, Bev Craig, was listed as receiving an annual LGA allowance of £46,543 for the 2025/26 financial year for leading the group.
• Councillor Mason currently receives £76,570.52 annually in allowances from Ealing Council, alongside a £20,370 allowance from the LGA for chairing its Improvement Committee.
• EALING.NEWS has submitted multiple media inquiries to Councillor Mason and the LGA Labour Group regarding election details, term duration, and local council impact, but responses remain outstanding.

Ealing (West London News) August 19, 2026 – Ealing Council leader Councillor Peter Mason has been elected leader of the Local Government Association (LGA) Labour Group, succeeding Bev Craig following her election as Mayor of Greater Manchester.The LGA Labour Group officially designates the postholder as “Labour’s leader in Local Government.”

By taking on the leadership role, Councillor Mason also steps into the position of senior vice-chair of the cross-party Local Government Association, an umbrella body advocating for councils across England and Wales.

The leadership change follows significant national political realignments. Former leader Bev Craig was elected Mayor of Greater Manchester on 30 July 2026. Her victory succeeded former mayor Andy Burnham, who returned to Parliament as the MP for Makerfield on 18 June 2026.

Mr Burnham subsequently assumed the Labour Party leadership on 17 July 2026 before becoming Prime Minister on 20 July 2026, following the resignation of Sir Keir Starmer.

What duties and allowances come with the LGA Labour leadership?

The leadership position entails acting as the primary advocate for Labour in local government in high-level consultations with the national Government and the broader Labour Party. Key responsibilities include representing local council interests at Labour’s Annual Conference and the National Policy Forum.

Official LGA statements outline that the role requires extensive public engagement. According to the LGA:

“The postholder must also undertake a range of activities on behalf of the LGA on an ad hoc basis including hosting events and delegations, making visits, writing articles and making presentations, ensuring that the role is visible and recognised across the sector, with government, with partners and in the media.”

Furthermore, in his capacity as senior vice-chair, Councillor Mason may be called upon to preside over major cross-party LGA meetings should the association’s overarching chair be unavailable.

Regarding remuneration, official records indicate that previous leader Bev Craig was listed to receive an annual LGA allowance of £46,543 for the 2025/26 year in connection with the post.

Following his election victory on 10 August 2026, Councillor Mason publicly commented on social media platform X:

“Labour in local government deliver day in, day out. Champions of local community, delivering growth in every place, putting power back into people’s hands. Thank you to colleagues for electing me the Leader of the LGA Labour Group. So much to do.”

What are Councillor Mason’s existing council and LGA responsibilities?

Councillor Mason has represented local constituents in Ealing since 2014, when he was first elected to represent the former Elthorne ward. Since the 2018 local council elections, he has served as councillor for the Southall Green ward.

This national appointment adds to an extensive set of existing governance responsibilities and allowances:

• Ealing Council Leadership: As council leader, Councillor Mason receives a total annual council allowance of £76,570.52. This consists of a £13,756 basic allowance provided to all elected councillors, supplemented by a £62,814.52 special responsibility allowance for leading the administration.
• LGA Improvement Committee: Since 11 March 2026, he has chaired the LGA Improvement Committee, receiving an annual LGA allowance of £20,370. Prior to assuming the chair, he served as deputy chair with an annual allowance of £10,184.
• LGA Governance Roles: LGA public records list Councillor Mason as chair of the Audit and Risk Assurance Committee and a member of the Governance Working Group. Public documentation notes that for these specific governance functions, he receives his existing allowance as a committee chair rather than separate individual payments.

What questions remain unanswered regarding the appointment?

As reported by EALING.NEWS, multiple attempts have been made to obtain further clarification from both the LGA Labour Group and Councillor Mason directly.

EALING.NEWS has contacted LGA Labour several times since 10 August 2026 to inquire about:

• The precise duration of Councillor Mason’s leadership term.
• The exact final allowance figure he will receive for the new role.
• Whether he will continue to hold and receive allowances for his current post as chair of the LGA Improvement Committee.
• Specific details regarding the election process, including nomination figures and whether other candidates contested the ballot.

Additionally, EALING.NEWS reached out directly to Councillor Mason on 10 August 2026, requesting statements on how his national elevation will benefit Ealing residents and how he plans to manage the dual responsibilities alongside leading Ealing Council. A follow-up request was submitted on 17 August 2026. Responses to these inquiries have not yet been provided.

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Background of the appointment

The Local Government Association operates as the national voice for local government, supporting councils in delivering public services, managing regional budgets, and coordinating policy reform with central government. The political groups within the LGA—including the LGA Labour Group—form the core mechanism through which party policy is coordinated across hundreds of local councils in England and Wales.

Councillor Mason’s elevation reflects a broader shift within Labour’s local government leadership structure. Having previously served as deputy group leader of the LGA Labour Group alongside Brighton and Hove Council leader Bella Sankey, his step up to full leadership follows a rapid chain of political vacancies created by senior local government figures transitioning into parliamentary and mayoral offices.

Prediction: How will this development affect Ealing residents and local government?

The appointment of Councillor Peter Mason to national local government leadership is expected to carry both structural opportunities and operational challenges for his primary constituency in Ealing:

• Direct Access to Central Government Policy: As the designated representative for Labour local authorities nationwide, Councillor Mason will maintain direct lines of communication with central government ministers and national policy forums. For Ealing residents, this high-level visibility could ensure that urban borough issues—such as housing delivery, infrastructure investment, and local government funding allocations—are prominently positioned in national policy discussions.
• Scrutiny over Time Management and Dual Roles: Balancing the leadership of a major West London borough with the national demands of representing Labour across all English and Welsh councils requires substantial time commitment. Residents and political opponents in Ealing may scrutinise whether his added responsibilities affect his capacity to address hyper-local borough concerns, such as local service delivery, street cleanliness, and planning decisions.
• Public Interest in Allowances and Governance: With local authority budgets facing ongoing financial pressure, the precise combination of LGA allowances alongside local council leader remuneration is likely to draw continued public attention. The clarity provided on whether multiple committee roles and allowance caps are adjusted will impact public perception regarding accountability and governance within Ealing Council.