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07
May
‘Keane has the right to challenge… but it brings confusion’, says Tory leader
The Conservative leader of North Yorkshire Council has said the challenge to his position has brought “confusion” to the party in the run-up to next year’s elections.
North Yorkshire doesn’t have council elections this week but there is now less than a year until the next vote on May 6, 2027. It is, however, unclear who will lead the Tories into battle.
Councillor Keane Duncan stood against Cllr Les for the party leadership at yesterday’s (May 6) party AGM in Northallerton.
But the ballot was aborted amid disagreement over whether only Conservative councillors were eligible to vote, or whether three Independents who form part of the wider Conservative and Independents group should also have their say.
The support of the Independents has helped to shore up the Conservatives’ control of the council as the number of seats held by the party has fallen from 47 of 90 to 41 since the last elections in 2022.
Asked how he felt about the leadership challenge, Cllr Les told the Stray Ferret:
I was disappointed in as much as it brings a sense of confusion into an election year. But Conservative Party rules say that every year the leader has to put themselves up for election so it’s entirely his right to do it. I just thought it was unfortunate for him to do it in an election year.
Cllrs Carl Les (left) and Gareth Dadd.
Long-term leader?
Last week Cllr Les’ deputy, Cllr Gareth Dadd, said he would relinquish his role at the AGM and not seek re-election as a councillor next year.
The two men have been close political allies. Asked if he planned to continue as a councillor beyond next year, Cllr Les, who represents Catterick village and Brompton-on-Swale, indicated he would but “the people of Catterick might have a different view” at the ballot box.
But he was coy on whether he wanted to remain as leader, a role he has held since 2015 first at North Yorkshire County Council and then at North Yorkshire Council.
He said:
If I was successful as a candidate and re-elected, then I would decide at that time whether I will put my name forward to continue as leader.
Asked if he would like to carry on, he said: “I will make my mind up at the time.”
Cllr Keane Duncan
Cllr Duncan, who served on Cllr Les’ cabinet until the pair fell out last year, has declined to comment since yesterday’s aborted ballot.
Political groups
The vote was deferred until July so a working group can be set up to decide whether Independent councillors who are aligned with the Conservatives will be allowed to vote.
It is understood Conservative Party rules currently ban non-Tories from voting on leadership issues, but Cllr Les said most of his colleagues supported allowing all group members decide the group leader.
He said: “Our rules and constitution haven’t kept pace with present circumstances and the potential future circumstances.”
Political groups have become increasingly common at County Hall in recent years as support for the Conservatives has waned and other parties have formed alliances to increase representation on the various committees.
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