Council leader survives leadership challenge

Simon Geraghty said he was grateful for the “overwhelming support” of Tory councillors

The Conservative leader of Worcestershire County Council, Simon Geraghty, has survived a challenge against his leadership.

Mr Geraghty, who has been leader since 2016, was re-elected as leader of the county’s Conservative group at its annual general meeting on Friday.

In a statement, he told the BBC he was grateful for the “overwhelming support” of Tory councillors.

The challenge to his leadership - which began in 2016 - came for the first time from a rival Tory.

“We’re a democratic group, anyone can put themselves forward every year. I’d like to thank the group for their trust in me,” said Mr Geraghty.

'Not a personal attack'

Kyle Daisley, a Tory councillor for Bromsgrove South, had challenged him to become leader.

Under group rules, county Tories select their leader every 12 months. As the party currently has a large majority on the county council, this in effect also determines the local authority’s leader.

Mr Geraghty became the youngest county council leader in the country when he was elected in January 2016, at the age of 39.

Mr Daisley has served as chairman of the county council for the past year, and also works as a cabin crew member for Virgin Atlantic.

He told the BBC the challenge had not been a personal attack on Mr Geraghty, but had been about changing the direction of the county council.

He said he would now give Mr Geraghty his full support over the next year. The exact number of votes each received was not announced.

All council seats on Worcestershire County Council will be contested in May 2025.