The new leader of the Tories in Wolverhampton is facing a fresh vote of confidence from his group just weeks after being announced as the new boss, the Express & Star can today reveal.
Councillor Neville Patten, who became leader of the Conservative group last week following the resignation of Paddy Bradley, will automatically face a new vote after the May local elections under the party’s constitutional rules.
And today it emerged that a rival councillor who pushed him all the way to be the leader of the group has refused to rule out a fresh challenge in six weeks time.
Councillor Wendy Thompson, who represents Tettenhall Wightwick and lost out narrowly to be leader last week, said her chance of standing again “depends on the feelings of the group”.
The vote is usually seen as a formal process and is almost always unopposed - historically leaders only face a challenge if the party suffers disastrously in the local elections.
Councillor Patten, who represents Bushbury North, said: “Every year we have a meeting after the local elections so we can put our people in place, and that goes for the leader too who has to be voted back in.
“It happens straight after the elections because only then do we know how many councillors we’ve got for the coming year. I’m getting into the swing of things as leader and hope I continue.”
Councillor Patten, a 66-year old former Wolverhampton bus driver, took over from Councillor Bradley following her resignation last week after six years as leader.
The re-election of Councillor Patten will take place on the first full week of May in the group’s annual general meeting, which follows the local elections on May 1.
On providing a leadership challenge, Councillor Thompson said: “It depends on the feelings of the group. I’m currently dealing with residents’ issues and then there is the local elections to fight first. That is what is important.”
Last week Councillor Bradley resigned as leader of the group after saying she had “had enough” after six years in the job.
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2 Comments
are any of them worth it
Thank you Paddy Bradley for past service: BUT there is sometimes a time
to go ! Who ever is the new leader Wolverhampton deserves vigorous
opposition to our present political masters, who have had their own way for too long. NOW, what about announcing NO Council tax increases.It has been managed in Scotland, so why not in Wolverhampton England ?