Ealing Council leader Councillor Peter Mason has been elected leader of the Local Government Association (LGA) Labour Group, succeeding Bev Craig after she became Mayor of Greater Manchester.
The LGA Labour Group describes the holder of the position as “Labour’s leader in Local Government”. The appointment also makes Councillor Mason senior vice-chair of the cross-party LGA, which represents councils in England and Wales.
Ms Craig was elected Mayor of Greater Manchester last month (30 July 2026), following former mayor Andy Burnham’s return to Parliament as MP for Makerfield on 18 June 2026. Mr Burnham subsequently became Labour leader on 17 July 2026 and Prime Minister on 20 July 2026, following the resignation of Sir Keir Starmer.
The role, for which his predecessor Ms Craig was listed as receiving an annual LGA allowance of £46,543 for 2025/26, involves representing Labour local government in discussions with the Government and Labour Party, including at Labour’s Annual Conference and National Policy Forum.
The LGA says: “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.”
As senior vice-chair, Councillor Mason may also be called on to chair major LGA meetings in place of the organisation’s chair.
Following his election win (10 August 2026), Councillor Mason posted on 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.”
Councillor Mason was first elected to Ealing Council in 2014, representing the former Elthorne ward. He has represented Southall Green ward since the 2018 council elections.
The appointment adds to Councillor Mason’s existing responsibilities with both Ealing Council and the LGA.
He currently receives an annual LGA allowance of £20,370 as chair of its Improvement Committee, a position he has held since 11 March 2026. Before taking on the chairmanship, LGA records show he was a deputy chair, a position carrying an annual allowance of £10,184.
LGA records also list Councillor Mason as chair of its Audit and Risk Assurance Committee and as a member of its Governance Working Group. The records state that for these positions he receives his existing allowance as an LGA committee chair rather than a separate payment.
As a councillor and leader of Ealing Council, Councillor Mason receives a total annual allowance of £76,570.52 from the council. This comprises the £13,756 basic allowance paid to all councillors and a £62,814.52 special responsibility allowance for serving as council leader.
EALING.NEWS has contacted LGA Labour several times since 10 August 2026, asking about the length of Councillor Mason’s term, the allowance he will receive, whether he will continue as chair of the LGA’s Improvement Committee and details of the leadership election, including who else stood.
EALING.NEWS also reached out to Councillor Mason. On 10 August 2026, we asked what he hopes his appointment will mean for Ealing and its residents and how the new national role will work alongside his responsibilities as leader of Ealing Council. A further request for a response was sent to Councillor Mason on 17 August 2026.
Neither Councillor Mason nor LGA Labour had responded at the time of publication.
 Labour Group, succeeding Bev Craig after she became Mayor of Greater Manchester.){kind=link}