Former Northampton Borough Council leader set to take over at West Northamptonshire Council

The Conservative group for West Northamptonshire has chosen councillor Jonathan Nunn as its new leader elect, the local Conservative party has confirmed.

Councillor Nunn will now go forward to the annual meeting on Thursday (May 20) as the Conservative’s leader nominee for the new West Northamptonshire Council

The meeting will be held at Northampton Saints’ Franklin’s Gardens stadium as it has enough space to accommodate all the 93 councillors and council staff.

The Conservative's won the elections held last week for the new West Northamptonshire Council, taking 66 of the 93 seats with 51 per cent of the votes cast.

Councillor Ian McCord had been widely expected to take the leadership role after being nominated as leader of the Shadow WNC prior to it coming into official existence.

However, on Tuesday, Councillor McCord was suspended from the party following complaints made against him. Councillor McCord has strenuously denied the allegations. His suspension did not stop him from standing in the leadership race and it is understood that he came second to Councillor Nunn.

Speaking to the Chron yesterday, the deputy chairman of South Northamptonshire Conservatives Association, Andre Gonzalez De Savage, confirmed an investigation had been started and that Councillor McCord had been suspended while the investigation into the complaint was carried out.

Councillor Gonzalez De Savage, who represents East Hunsbury and Shelfleys ward, said the complaints will be investigated by a team from outside the association and Councillor McCord will have a chance to put across his case.

Councillor McCord won one of three Deanshanger seats at Thursday's historic elections for the new unitary authority, having been a councillor since 2011.

Hours after his party took 66 of the 93 seats with 51 per cent of the votes cast, he said: “This is what we campaigned to do.

“We will bring the best of all component parts in West Northamptonshire to create the best council in the UK.

“We want to make West Northamptonshire a place where people are proud to live, visit, study and invest."

North Northamptonshire's Conservative group elected former county councillor Jason Smithers leader on Monday. He will be voted in as leader at a full council meeting on May 26.