Council leader removed in vote of no-confidence

Anne Dorrian became leader of Boston Borough Council in 2023

The leader of Boston Borough Council has been removed from her post in a vote of no confidence instigated by former members of her own party.

Anne Dorrian, who had been leader of the Boston Independent group since 2023, had seen the resignations from the party of 14 of its 17 councillors in recent weeks. They also called for Dorrian to step down.

At a full council meeting on Monday, she was voted out by 21 votes to three and was replaced by her former deputy, Dale Broughton.

Dorrian said that "those who I once supported" had "destroyed what we built together".

She co-founded the Boston Independent group and became leader of the council after the party took control of the authority in the 2023 elections.

The motion tabled by the former members of the group said Dorrian had "lost significant support from the Boston Independent group and can no longer, in our view, fulfil this function on behalf of members of this council".

It added that it was "in the interests of the council" to have "clear concise leadership".

Speaking after the meeting, Dorrian said: "Those who I once supported, nurtured and trusted have chosen not to build alongside me but destroy what we built together."

She said leadership was "often a lonely road", especially when "those who should be standing with you are quietly stepping away to sharpen their knives".

Broughton thanked Dorrian for her two-and-a-half years as leader of the council and said that taking on the role was an "exciting prospect".

The authority said new cabinet roles would be announced "in due course".

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