Kirklees Council’s former leader looks set for a dramatic return, just two months after being ousted.

Labour veteran, Clr David Sheard, was surprisingly ditched by his own party just days after the local elections in May.

Some party members organised a coup against him and Clr Shabir Pandor emerged as the new leader of the biggest group at the council.

But the move upset many and opposition groups refused to allow Clr Pandor to take control of Kirklees Council, forcing chief executive Adrian Lythgo to take charge.

Now after eight weeks of rows and uncertainty – including the infamous Ratesgate scandal – it appears rivals in the Labour group have buried the hatchet in a bid to bring back stability.

A joint statement intimated that the tragic murder of Batley and Spen MP Jo Cox and the EU referendum result had sharpened Labour members’ resolve to regain unity.

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A leadership vote of all councillors will be taken on Wednesday evening with Heckmondwike Clr Sheard expected to regain the top job.

Clr Pandor will be his deputy and some of the senior councillors from Clr Sheard’s former cabinet are thought to have been offered their jobs back.

A statement released jointly by councillors Sheard and Pandor said: “Since annual council just a few weeks ago, unforeseen events both locally and nationally have shocked and appalled us.

“Whatever has gone before between us is resolved and we believe it is right for Kirklees Labour, as the largest group on the council, to come together as quickly as possible and provide strong leadership for local people.

“If we are successful in becoming Leader and Deputy Leader of the council, we will work closely with each other - and indeed with every councillor in the chamber - to achieve the best outcomes for Kirklees.

“This is the priority shared by all of us.”

If the new leadership team is voted through at the meeting at Huddersfield Town Hall it will mean a return to council business, which has effectively been on hold for over two months.

Many key decisions on the future of the borough are due to be taken, including the sale of the old sports centre site and changes to council services following the huge budget cuts inflicted by the Government.