West Leeds Labour councillor to stand down after 12 years

Caroline Gruen has represented the city’s Bramley and Stanningley ward since 2012.

During her time in office, Councillor Gruen has been a trustee of the Board of Bramley Baths, which transferred to community ownership in the year she was elected, and chaired the Friends of Bramley War Memorial.

Labour figures confirmed on social media that Adele Rae, the CEO of the Kirkstall Valley Development Trust, will stand as its candidate for Bramley and Stanningley in 2024.

Posting on X, formerly known as Twitter, Ms Rae herself said she was “delighted” to have been selected by the party, adding that she had “big shoes to follow”.

Councillor Tom Hinchcliffe, who himself was elected as one of the area’s three Labour councillors earlier this year, wrote on Facebook: “Adele is a tireless campaigner for social justice and will make a dedicated councillor for our community.

“She has big shoes to fill as Caroline Gruen steps down.

“Caroline’s commitment to Bramley and Stanningley for over 12 years has been a huge source of inspiration for us all and I’m delighted to be working with both Adele and Caroline on the upcoming campaign.

A former deputy head teacher and Ofsted inspector, Councillor Gruen recently called for the school system to water down its “constant emphasis” on academic success, for the benefit of children.

Her husband, Peter Gruen, was also a long-serving councillor and acted as deputy leader of the Labour-run local authority between 2010 and 2015.

Labour has held all three city council seats in Bramley and Stanningley since Leeds’ ward boundaries were rejigged in 2004.

Before then, the Liberal Democrats did have some success in its predecessor ward, known simply as ‘Bramley’, winning seats in the late 1990s and early 2000s.