Plymouth Conservatives elect new council group leader

Councillor Ted Fry has been elected as the new leader of the Conservatives' council group. The councillor for Compton was previously deputy leader and replaces Cllr Vivien Pengelly who begins a year's tenure as Lord Mayor next month.

The new deputy leader is Patrick Nicholson, a councillor in Plympton St Mary ward.

Cllr Fry saw off competition from Cllr Ian Bowyer and Cllr Sam Leaves for the leadership. He has served on the council since 1992.

The party are in opposition on the city council with Labour in power since 2012 when they took over from the Conservative administration led by Cllr Pengelly. There are no elections this year.