Gordon slings his Hook

Teignbridge council leader quits

The leader of Teignbridge District Council is stepping down from the role. Cllr Gordon Hook (Liberal Democrat) will resign at the next full council meeting on 3 September in order to spend more time with his family. He announced his decision at a party meeting and has already stepped down as its leader.

Mr Hook took over the leadership of the Lib Dems in 2015 and led the party to victory in the May 2019 local elections, securing a majority and taking control of the council from the Conservatives. But after just over a year in charge of the council, he wants to spend more time with his family. He will remain as a councillor and continue to represent the Buckland and Milber ward.

Cllr Alistair Dewhirst will be interim group leader of the Liberal Democrats until elections for Cllr Hook’s replacement take place on 27 August. He said: “Gordon has been my friend for nearly 20 years, and it has been the greatest pleasure to serve under his leadership.  I am sure we will still be able to rely on his sage advice from the back benches.”

Chairman of the group, Cllr Dave Rollason, also thanked Mr Hook for his inspiring leadership which has taken the Liberal Democrats from third place to a majority of the council.

At the next full council meeting, Cllr Hook will formally resign as the leader, with the new Liberal Democrat group leader, whoever that may be, then putting themselves forward for election to the role. It is expected that they would then become the leader of the council, as 24 of the 47 seats on are held by Liberal Democrats, with 12 Conservatives, eight Independents, and three Newton Says No members. Cllr Dewhirst says that although he will be leader of the party on the council for an interim period, he won't be standing as a candidate for the permanent role.

The Liberal Democrats did hold 26 seats after the 2019 local elections, but Cllrs Linda and John Petherick have since left the group and now sit as Independents.