Opposition councillors say a “new political landscape” is emerging in North Yorkshire after the Conservative-led group on the unitary authority lost its majority.
The decision by Oatlands and Pannal division councillor, John Mann, to become an unaffiliated independent member means the Conservative and Independent group on North Yorkshire Council now has 45 out of 90 members.
While the casting vote of the Tory council chairman would mean the party could still win any full council vote, the loss of the majority means council officers will now need to recalculate the political makeup of the authority’s various committees.
The Conservatives-led group currently occupies all seats on the council’s executive committee, and have the majority of councillors on other non-constituency-based committees.
Cllr Mann said his decision was a reaction to the “national political situation, the current state of the Conservative Party at Westminster and its continued diminishing prospects for the future”.
He added:
“It seems that the party, which I have been a supporter of for decades, is slipping away with every new national opinion poll; and appears to have no overarching vision or coherent set of ideas to revive our failing state.”
Commenting on the departure from the group, council leader, Carl Les, said:
“It’s always disappointing to lose a colleague, especially one that I’ve known for a lot of years now and worked with for a lot of years.
“I think the special disappointment is that he hasn’t fallen out with North Yorkshire Conservatives and the group within the council; it was an issue with the national party.”
Cllr Les, who represents the Catterick Village and Brompton-on-Swale division, said officers would now be looking at the numbers to ensure the political proportionality of the committees.
“The fact that one person moves is a minor change,” he added.
Opposition leaders, however, said the loss of the majority signalled a political change in the county.
Councillor Peter Lacey, Liberal Democrat leader of the opposition and member for the Coppice Valley and Duchy division, said:
“The loss of another Conservative councillor reflects a slow but steady shift in North Yorkshire’s political landscape. That shift must now be represented at County Hall.
“Our committees must reflect the council as it truly is today, not as it was years ago. Rebalancing the seats is essential if we’re to uphold basic democratic fairness.”
Richmond councillor Stuart Parsons, leader of the North Yorkshire Independent group on the authority, said it was “interesting times at the council, adding:
“Democracy is about to come into force at North Yorkshire Council”.
“The leader has been elected for the whole duration of the council, but he’s no longer in a position to only nominate Conservatives for the executive committee.
“It could become very interesting with a form of power sharing, but it’s a question of all the different opposition groups working together to come up with alternatives to the lifelong Conservative majority.”
Cllr Mann’s departure follows last month’s defection of Cliffe and North Duffield councillor Karl Arthur to Reform.
Cllr Parsons said he expected further departures from the Conservative group in the run-up to the 2027 local elections.
Hipswell and Colburn councillor Kevin Foster, leader of the Green and Independent Group, said the change in the political balance meant the council had an “opportunity for more balanced, collaborative decision-making”.
He added:
“This change better reflects the views of our communities and ends one-party dominance. The Green and Independent Group stands ready to work constructively with all parties.
“The challenges facing our county demand cooperation, not confrontation. I hope this new political landscape encourages an inclusive, consensus-driven approach, one that genuinely puts residents first.”
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