MOVING IN: June Bridle.

THE veteran leader of Southampton city council has been dumped in favour of his deputy in a move which has surprised Labour party members across the city.

At last night's meeting of the city's 27 Labour councillors, education chief June Bridle was elected by a majority of 15 votes to ten, sweeping away the three-year reign of John Arnold.

This came despite a vote for leader by the whole party late last week which indicated that Mr Arnold was going to keep hold of the top job. He had scooped up 50 per cent of the votes of ordinary Labour party members.

Councillors instead swept aside their party's advice, switching allegiance to Mrs Bridle - who, in an unprecedented step, has also been allowed to keep hold of her posi-tion in education.

In a compromise move John Arnold stays head of the powerful strategy and resources committee, which traditionally is chaired by the leader of the council. He has also been made deputy leader.

And councillor Paul Russell, who the party had advised should be dropped as head of environment services, has instead been reinstated, despite a strong challenge by up-and-coming star Richard Williams.

"The group has thumbed their nose at the Labour party in Southampton,'' said one member.

However the vote appeared to express only a relatively mild dis-satisfaction with Mr Arnold, who has achieved some notable successes in his time.

These included find-ing the Saints a new home, bringing a £270 million shopping development into Southampton and heading up a successful trade delegation to China.

But at 51 Mrs Bridle is a younger leader and is also a break in the chain back to former leader and now city MP Alan Whitehead, a close colleague of Mr Arnold.

She said last night: "The party gave me a sufficient vote last week to indicate I was acceptable for leader, which is why my name was put forward as well.

"This vote is not a rejection of what the party has said, nor a rejection of John's leadership. He was an excellent leader of the Labour group.

"It's going to be a lot of work with education as well, but it's something I think I can handle. I'm looking forward to it."

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