HDC’s Conservatives Elect New Leader

Simon Whelband has been elected as the new leader of the opposition Conservative group on Harborough District Council.

He succeeds Jon Bateman, who has led the Tories since 2023 and will continue to serve as a councillor.

Simon Whelband

Cllr Whelband has been member for the Kibworths since 2019 and was elected at a meeting of the Conservative group last night.

He told HFM he was delighted to be taking on the role and holding the council’s coalition administration to account, on issues including the proposed new Local Plan:

Former council leader Phil King has been elected as deputy leader of the Conservative group.