Patrick Harley elected as leader for Dudley Tory arm

Former Dudley Council leader Councillor Les Jones stepped down as leader of the borough's Tory group amid claims of his failing leadership.

At a showdown meeting held on Friday, councillors discussed the future direction of the party, and a ballot was held for the leadership.

It was originally thought that present deputy leader, Councillor Tim Wright, and the group's transport spokesman Councillor Patrick Harley would vie for the top job.

But in the end it was Councillor Harley who took on backbencher Councillor Ken Turner for the post – and Councillor Harley was declared the winner.

At the meeting Conservative councillors met to discuss the future of the party, which lost control of Dudley Council at last May's elections.

This was further compounded by a by-election defeat at the end of last month.

Councillor Harley, who represents Kingswinford South, today said that he was very pleased there was a contest for leadership.

He said: "To be honest I was pleased there was a contest for leadership,as it is not right that someone should just be declared a winner.

"At the meeting we had a frank discussion about the state of the party and we all decided was that the members need to unite and concentrate our effort on taking the Labour administration to task."

He added: "The most important thing is that we unite the group, so we can move forward."

Councillor Harley said that he felt honoured to be elected leader of the party.

He added: "I am personally delighted, and will do my upmost to unite the party, and we now look forward to a successful next election in 2014."

The budget and transport are two areas he believed that people in Dudley most care about at this time.

He pledged to sort out the party's shadow cabinet and provide a strong challenge to Labour when the borough elections take place in May next year.

Councillor Jones served as leader of the party in the borough for almost two years.

He said: "We were in control of the council for nine years, we lost control last May and that has since led to some unrest within the party.

"It was this uncertainty which led to me making the decision to step down – I now fully back Patrick to unite the party again."