Sir Howard Bernstein named JLC vice-chair

The former chief executive of Manchester City Council credited with regenerating Britain’s second city is to become a vice-president of the Jewish Leadership Council.

Sir Howard Bernstein, who rose to head the council after joining as a clerk, championed the city’s innovative tram system and oversaw the city centre’s reconstruction after a massive IRA bomb in 1996.

“Sir Howard is the outstanding local government leader of his generation,” said JLC chief executive Simon Johnson. “His unparalleled experience will be of huge value to our community and we look forward to working with him.”

Bernstein is acknowledged to have inspired investment and growth and reformed the council’s public sector work, including its healthcare provision, for which he was subsequently listed as one of the most influential people in the NHS.