East Riding Council and Conservative group leaders ousted by party

The ruling Conservative group leader and his deputy have been ousted following an annual party vote.

Councillors Richard Burton and Mike Stathers, Conservative group and East Riding Council leader and deputy respectively, were voted out of office following the party’s AGM this morning (Wednesday, April 28).

Group sources said Cllr Jonathan Owen was elected to take over from Cllr Burton, with Cllr John Holtby voted in as deputy.

Councillors Burton and Stathers are understood to have handed over their posts to the victors who have now taken over as leader and deputy leader of the Conservative group.

It is understood that Cllr Burton and Cllr Stathers will carry on as caretaker leader and deputy leader of the council until members confirm the appointment of Cllr Owen and Cllr Holtby at its forthcoming AGM.

The ousting comes as dissatisfaction is thought to have grown among the group in recent months, creating fractures around issues including devolution, the fallout from Ofsted’s inadequate rating of childrens services and the recent expulsion from the group of Cllr Paul Lisseter.

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