Sacked leisure chief Ray Hassall said losing his position on the Birmingham City Council cabinet was one of the best things that ever happened to him.
The Perry Barr councillor has spent the summer in Grigoria – a remote village in Crete – after he was replaced as cabinet member for leisure, sport and culture by Coun Martin Mullaney.
His own Liberal Democrat colleagues voted in favour of the change and Coun Hassall decided a “long holiday” would be the best option following his dismissal.
“I think since leaving the role I am the least stressed out man in Birmingham,” he said. “People were right when they said that role was a poisoned chalice. So many things went wrong and a lot of it was out of my hands.”
Since Mike Whitby became leader of the council five years ago, four different cabinet members have held the position.
Coun Hassall feels he is now reaping the rewards of a stress-free lifestyle after a troubled three-year stint on the cabinet.
