Tories unveil new duo to lead county council - The Worcester Observer

Tories unveil new duo to lead county council

Worcester Editorial 13th Jan, 2016 Updated: 19th Oct, 2016   0

THE CONSERVATIVES have a new leadership team at Worcestershire County Council just weeks after the resignation of Adrian Hardman.

At a meeting of Tory councillors on Friday (January 8), Coun Simon Geraghty was elected unopposed as leader of the party at County Hall, with Coun Anthony Blagg taking the role of Deputy Group Leader.

With the Conservatives holding 33 of the 57 seats at the County Council, it’s now widely expected the two will be voted in as the new leader and deputy leader of the authority at a full council meeting tomorrow (Thursday).

The leadership contest was called after Coun Adrian Hardman’s five-year spell as leader of came to an end following his arrest and charge for drink driving. He will appear at Cheltenham Magistrate’s Court on Monday (January 18) where he has said he will plead guilty.




Coun Simon Geraghty said: “I’m very proud to have received the unanimous support of my group.

“Worcestershire continues to face a huge number of challenges and we as Conservatives will continue to meet those challenges and will carry on fighting for the very best deal for the residents of Worcestershire.


The change in leadership at County Hall will now have repercussions for Worcester City Council, with Coun Geraghty now stepping down as leader at the Guildhall. Deputy Leader Coun Marc Bayliss is widely tipped to take over the position and told the Observer he would be humbled should the opportunity arose to replace Coun Geraghty.

Coun Anthony Blagg said: “I was very pleased and proud to be elected unanimously as Deputy Leader by our group last Friday and I look forward to assisting the new Leader Simon Geraghty in his new role.”

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