Council leader calls no-confidence vote strange

The vote of no confidence motion was tabled on Friday, meeting the threshold of 29 signatures

Cornwall Council's Conservative leader Linda Taylor has described efforts to remove her as "strange".

Her comments come ahead of a no-confidence vote on Thursday 7 November, which was tabled by councillor John Conway who resigned from the Tory group after calling Taylor a "dictator".

Those behind the vote have raised concerns about the cabinet's decision to forge ahead with finding a financial partner to run and develop the council's Newquay Airport estate.

Taylor said: "I find it a little strange in relation to the airport. Quite clearly, nobody has actually seen a deal; cabinet haven't seen a deal, we’re still in discussions."

Airport proposals concerns

She told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "I find the timing a little bit odd - and there’s obviously more to a vote of no confidence - there has to be something else going on."

Taylor said: "I still want the best for Cornwall and I can’t let it affect me.

"It must not interfere with the normal business of this Conservative administration."

Attempts to oust Taylor have been backed by the former Cornwall Council leader, Independent councillor Julian German.

He told the BBC: "I don't think the vote is strange at all because many councillors have for a long time been expressing concerns around airport proposals.

"If councillor Taylor withdrew the plans I have no doubt [the vote] would go away."

German faced a vote of no confidence himself when he was leader of the council at the beginning of 2021.