Following his Westminster defeat he resumed his career in local government, serving as leader of
Cannock Chase District Council, where he represented the
Rugeley ward of Brereton and Ravenhill until losing his seat in 2002. He served as a Labour councillor on
Staffordshire County Council, representing the Brereton and Ravenhill division, which incorporates a slightly larger area than the district council ward of the same name. He retired from membership of the County Council in 2010. He continued to live in Rugeley with his wife until his death in 2018. == References ==