Editing Middlesbrough (section)

===Leadership of the Council===
Since 2002, political leadership on the council has been provided by the directly elected [[Mayor of Middlesbrough]]. Prior to 2002 the council was led by a [[leader of the council]], and the mayor had a more ceremonial role. The leaders from 1981 to 2002 were:
{| class=wikitable
! Councillor !! colspan=2|Party !! From !! To
|-
| Walter Ferrier<ref>{{cite news |last1=Robson |first1=Dave |title=Councillor Walter Ferrier who spent 57 years serving the people of Middlesbrough has died |url=https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/councillor-walter-ferrier-who-spent-8805893 |access-date=22 February 2024 |work=Teesside Live |date=9 March 2015}}</ref> || {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}} || align=right|1981 || align=right|1983
|-
| Michael Carr<ref>{{cite news |last1=Dale |first1=Sarah |title=Middlesbrough councillor receives OBE at Buckingham Palace |url=https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/middlesbrough-councillor-receives-obe-buckingham-7917660 |access-date=22 February 2014 |work=Teesside Live |date=10 October 2014}}</ref> || {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}} || align=right|1983 || align=right|1995
|-
| Ken Walker<ref>{{cite news |last1=McKenzie |first1=Sandy |title=Ex Middlesbrough Council leader tells of his regrets |url=https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/local-news/ex-middlesbrough-council-leader-tells-3719880 |access-date=22 February 2024 |work=Teesside Live |date=6 April 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Leader's mission to modify is over at last |url=https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/7075699.leaders-mission-modify-last/ |access-date=22 February 2024 |work=Northern Echo |date=1 May 2002}}</ref> || {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}} || align=right|1995 || align=right|5 May 2002
|}

The directly elected mayors since 2002 have been:
{| class=wikitable
! Mayor !! colspan=2|Party !! From !! To
|-
| [[Ray Mallon]] || {{Party name with colour|Independent politician}} || align=right|6 May 2002 || align=right|10 May 2015
|-
| [[Dave Budd (politician)|Dave Budd]] || {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}} || align=right|11 May 2015 || align=right|5 May 2019
|-
| [[Andy Preston (politician)|Andy Preston]] || {{Party name with colour|Independent politician}} || align=right|6 May 2019 || align=right|7 May 2023
|-
| [[Chris Cooke (politician)|Chris Cooke]] || {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}} || align=right|8 May 2023 || 
|}