A VETERAN councillor has been elected by Tory councillors to be their party’s new leader.

Mick Page, who represents the Homelands ward in Walton on Tendring Council and Walton on Essex County Council, was voted in as leader by fellow Tory councillors at a meeting on Wednesday night.

He was selected following a secret ballot.The election took place following the resignation of council leader – and Tory party leader - Peter Halliday in December.

Councillor Lynda McWilliams, who is Tory group secretary, said: “Mick Page has been elected as our new group leader.

“The next stage will be to go to the full council where we, as a group, will put Mick forward to be council leader.

“I do welcome the decision. We have to write to the council to say who our group leader is and all 31 members of the Conservative group have signed that form, which shows the support for Mick.”

Tendring Council must now formally appoint a new leader to replace Mr Halliday.

The council leader will be voted for by all 60 councillors at the authority’s next full council meeting on February 11.