Council Conservative leadership decision deferred

A "tense and chaotic" meeting to decide who should lead North Yorkshire Council's Conservative group ended without a vote.

Former executive member Keane Duncan had been nominated for the leadership, currently held by Carl Les, who also leads the council.

However, a vote planned at the group's annual general meeting on Wednesday ended in disagreement over who should be eligible to vote.

Some members had argued independent councillors aligned with the Conservatives should have a say. The meeting was deferred until July for further discussions on that issue.

It is understood Conservative Party rules currently ban non-members of the party from voting on leadership issues.

In addition to the meeting being described as "tense and chaotic", the Local Democracy Reporting Service understands that at some points councillors were visibly upset during the debate.

Les said it had become apparent "that our constitution and rules have not kept up with the present circumstance where there are more than just Conservative Party members as part of the group".

"There is a question about whether they are entitled to a vote or not.

"We need to clarify that and so we are setting up a working party to review the constitution and the rules."

Duncan declined to comment on the meeting.

The Conservatives on the council are currently able to maintain control thanks to the support of three independent councillors.

The leader of the Conservative and Independent group on the authority will not automatically become leader of the council.

But it is likely a new group leader would also go on to lead the council following a vote at the next full council meeting.

Les has been leader of North Yorkshire Council and its predecessor North Yorkshire County Council since 2015.

Duncan was the Conservative candidate for the post of mayor of York and North Yorkshire.

He also led Ryedale District Council and served as executive member for highways on North Yorkshire Council until he was removed by Les in June 2025.

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