Cumberland Conservatives have elected Mike Johnson as their group leader on the new Cumberland shadow authority.
Councillor Johnson, the current leader of Allerdale Borough Council, is the Conservative member for Thursby and was elected unopposed as the group leader at their inaugural meeting this week.
His deputy is David Moore, who won the Gosforth seat for the Conservatives in last week’s elections to the shadow unitary authority.
John Mallinson (Houghton and Irthington, Carlisle) will be the group’s chief whip and treasurer.
Following his election, Coun Johnson said: “I’m very pleased to have been elected leader of the Conservative group.
“I look forward to working with the group and with colleagues on the Shadow authority, serving the people of Cumberland in this new chapter for local government in our county.”
Cumberland Council replaces Allerdale, Carlisle, Copeland and the county councils when it comes into being next April. It will operate as a shadow authority for the next 12 months, completing the transition process before the existing city, county and borough councils hand over to it on Vesting Day.
Labour gained overall control of 46-seat Cumberland Council with 30 seats, followed by the Conservatives with seven seats, the Liberal Democrats four, independent councillors three and the Green Party two.
