A long-standing councillor has taken on the challenge of becoming the new Conservative group leader on the Isle of Wight council.
Councillor Clare Mosdell is the group’s third leader in four months, following the resignation of Councillor Suzie Ellis from the role earlier this month.
Mosdell: Honoured to have been chosen
Confirming her new role today (Friday), Councillor Mosdell said she is honoured to have been chosen to fulfil the position.
Councillor Mosdell has been on the authority since May 2017, as the representative for Newchurch, Havenstreet and Ashey, and is also a Newchurch Parish Councillor.
She has been pushing for many years for a review of speed limits in Newchurch and Havenstreet to address speeding concerns.
Under the previous Conservative administration, Councillor Mosdell was the cabinet member for adult social care, housing and public health.
Counting the ‘sleeps’
She has previously made it known she would not be continuing as an elected member of the Isle of Wight Council once her term comes to an end in 2025.
At a full council meeting earlier this year, from the press table Councillor Mosdell was heard calling out several times the number of ‘sleeps’ she had left before the end of her term.
Takeover attempt failed
The Conservatives recently lost a takeover bid of the authority, when Councillor Ellis narrowly failed to secure the council leadership from Councillor Phil Jordan.
After her loss, and just four months in the role, Councillor Ellis resigned, saying she had seen the best and the worst of politics.
Former former leader
Previously, Councillor Joe Robertson took on the mantle as group leader after former Councillor Steve Hastings left the authority, but stood down to focus on his campaign for Island MP.
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is taking part in. Some alterations and additions may have been made by OnTheWight. Ed
