The leader of North Tyneside's Conservative group has been deselected, it has emerged.
George Westwater has been dropped as the party's candidate to stand in the St Mary's ward at next year's local elections, the latest twist in what has been a troubled year for the Tories locally.
Coun Westwater, whose term of office will end next May, will be replaced on the ballot paper by Sean Brockbank - chairman of the North Tyneside Conservative Federation and former leader of the Tory opposition group on the Labour-dominated council, before he lost his old Monkseaton South seat this year.
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Mr Brockbank told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "I would just point out that Coun Westwater has been greatly appreciated by the residents of St Mary's and the federation. But the party has decided to go in another direction."
He added: "Obviously I am really pleased to be selected by the approvals panel, which was independently monitored and constitutionally fair, and I look forward to working with my two other ward colleagues.
"There are many challenges in St Mary's including anti-social behaviour. I look forward to the challenges which may be presented. I will certainly build on my experience as a councillor and as a group leader. I have got the experience to make St Mary's a safer place."
Coun Westwater, who has led the Tories' nine-strong Conservative opposition group on North Tyneside Council since earlier this year, has not responded to requests for a comment.
It has been a turbulent year for the group, which has seen one of its councillors suspended over a “gutter politics” online attack.
Preston ward representative Liam Bones, who has since been reinstated without any further disciplinary action, was suspended this summer after labelling Jim Allan the borough’s “laziest Labour councillor” when was forced to vacate his seat due to illness.
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During the local elections campaign in April, the party was accused of “unethical” campaigning and trying to "exploit voters" after posting election leaflets mimicking the Green Party.
And, in March, North Tyneside Labour MP Mary Glindon alleged in Parliament that the area's Tory party had abused the furlough scheme by claiming payments for a member of staff who continued to work. The Tories strongly denied the allegations.
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