Initially, Leese worked as a teacher of mathematics at Sidney Stringer School in Coventry[1] and as an exchange teacher at Washington Junior High School in Duluth, Minnesota (USA) before moving to Manchester to take up a post as a youth worker. Leese has been employed variously in youth work, community work, and education research 1979–1988.[citation needed]
Leese was elected to the Manchester City Council in 1984 and was its deputy leader from 1990 until 1996, having previously chaired the Education Committee (1986–1990) and Finance Committee (1990–1995). From 1984 until 4 January 2022, he was a Labourcouncillor in the Crumpsallward.[4]
In September 2021 during an interview with the Manchester Evening News, Leese announced he would be stepping down as leader of Manchester City Council in December 2021 and would not be standing in the 2022 local elections.[10] He stepped down as leader of the council on 1 December 2021 and resigned from the council on 4 January 2022,[11] having spent 38 years as a councillor.[12]
Personal life
Leese was in a relationship with Michal Evans from 1982 to 2000, and has been with Joanne Green since 2003.[1]
On 14 April 2010, the BBC reported that Leese had stood down temporarily from his post as leader of Manchester City Council after having been arrested on suspicion of the common assault of his 16-year-old stepdaughter. He was released after accepting a police caution and admitting striking his stepdaughter across the face.[13][14]