THE LEADER of Wokingham Conservatives has lost a motion of no confidence.
The Wokingham Paper understands that the Conservatives held the vote at a group meeting last night.
As a result, the group is now looking for a new leader, with nominations expected to come in over the weekend.
However, Cllr Charlotte Haitham Taylor will remain as council leader until a vote has been taken in a full council meeting and we understand this can’t be at next week’s meeting.
Cllr Haitham Taylor was elected leader in May 2017 after successfully challenging the then group leader Cllr Keith Baker.
In this May’s local elections she lost her deputy leader, David Lee, after Cllr Rachel Burgess snatched his Norreys seat from him.
In September, her new deputy leader, Cllr Julian McGhee-Sumner, resigned from the Executive, telling The Wokingham Paper: “I disagree with the direction of travel under the leader and felt it was time to move on.
“I will become a backbencher. It’s sad to do this, I’ve been on the Executive since 2010 and I never thought it would end like this.”
Cllr McGhee-Sumner added that he intended to be an active backbencher, but as to his future plans, he said: “I’ll have to see what other backbenchers would like to see happen.”
Until the Conservatives’ leadership is settled, Cllr Pauline Jorgensen will be acting leader.
More details to follow. Wokingham Conservatives have been contacted for a comment.
