Council leader to stand down next year

The leader of North Yorkshire Council has announced he will stand down next year following the local elections.

Conservative leader Carl Les had been in a contest with fellow Tory councillor Keane Duncan to lead the group, with members failing to reach an agreement last month.

However, they have since cancelled the contest, coming to the decision that Les would lead the group through to the elections in May 2027.

Meanwhile Duncan will take on the role of leading the group's election preparations.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the Conservative and Independents remain the largest group on the council and the agreement is likely to mean Les continues to lead the authority until the ballot.

After the elections, he will stand down to allow the group to hold an open leadership contest.

Les said: "Keane and I are united and moving forward together with a clear focus on winning for the Conservatives in 2027.

"Our shared priority is delivering for North Yorkshire residents and preparing effectively for the election challenge ahead.

"Keane has a strong track record of campaigning across all corners of North Yorkshire and I'm pleased he will be leading our election preparations."

Duncan, who lost out in the May 2024 York and North Yorkshire mayoral election to Labour candidate David Skaith, will be responsible for establishing and chairing a new Campaign 2027 board.

The board will bring together Conservative candidates and party representatives to direct campaigning, fundraising and communications in the run-up to the elections.

Duncan said: "With less than a year until the elections, I believe the right decision now is to focus our energy into winning seats, rather than into prolonging a leadership contest."

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