Nick Forbes


Nicholas Iain Forbes is a British Labour politician who has served as the leader of Newcastle City Council since 2011. He has served as leader of the Labour group on the City Council since 2007.

Early life

Nick Forbes was born on 8 November 1973. He attended Wolsingham Comprehensive School in Weardale, County Durham, before studying social and political sciences at Selwyn College, Cambridge, where he obtained a 2.i degree. He later studied for a management diploma from Sheffield Hallam University, and a master's degree in Music from the Open University.

Political career

Nick Forbes became a councillor in May 2000, representing the Westgate part of the city, and went on to become leader of the Labour group in May 2007. In 2011, he became leader of the council following the 2011 local elections which saw the Liberal Democrats suffer heavy losses across the city, as well as nationally. He has been an extensive critic of the government's fiscal policy of cuts in funding to local government, and defended a policy of particularly cutting arts funding in the city in response. Forbes is critical of Universal Credit.
In February 2016, Forbes succeeded Jim McMahon as leader of Labour's Local Government Association.
In 2019 Forbes unsuccessfully sought selection to be Labour's candidate in the 2019 North of Tyne mayoral election, losing to Jamie Driscoll.

Honours

Forbes was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 2019 New Year Honours for services to local government.