Elections 2021: New Cornwall Council leader chosen

New council leader Linda Taylor said the authority would work closely with the county's six Tory MPs

Cornwall Council has a new leader after the Conservatives won a majority in last week's local elections.

Linda Taylor said she would head up the unitary authority after her party became the first to take full control of it since its creation in 2009.

The Conservative group leader takes the top seat after no-one stood against her for the the post, she told the BBC.

New deputy leader David Harris also stood unopposed and a new cabinet had been confirmed, she said.

Cornwall Council results

The Tories won 47 of the 87 seats, with Independents on 15 and the Liberal Democrats had 14 seats.

Cornwall-based party Mebyon Kernow has five seats and Labour has four, with the Labour & Cooperative Party and the Greens both having one.

After it was confirmed the Tories had won the most seats last week, Ms Taylor said the result was "absolutely amazing" and the first priority would be adult social care, followed by housing.

Cornwall Council's new cabinet:

• Leader: Linda Taylor

• Deputy Leader, Resources and Finance: David Harris

• Adults: Dr Andy Virr

• Environment and Public Protection: Martyn Alvey

• Economy: Stephen Rushworth

• Planning and Housing: Olly Monk

• Transport: Philip Desmonde

• Neighbourhoods: Carol Mould

• Children, Wellbeing and Public Health: Barbara Ellenbroek

• Customers: Richard Pears

Speaking on Monday, she said: "People have put their trust in the Conservative group within Cornwall.

"We've got six Conservative MPs. We are so looking forward to working them so we can enjoy the benefits of having that close working relationship."

Confirming the new cabinet, she added they were "there to serve you, the Cornish taxpayer, and we will not let you down".

The council was contested under new ward boundaries this year, with the number of seats on it falling from 123 to 87.

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