'No animosity' between councillors following leadership challenge

Conservative councillor Richard Kellaway claims there are no rifts in the party after challenging Cllr David Burbage (Con, Bray) for the leadership.

Cllr Kellaway (Con, Bisham & Cookham) challenged for the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead leadership at the Conservative group's annual meeting on Monday last week.

He lost by five votes, with Cllr Burbage winning by 26 votes to 21.

Speaking of the challenge this week Cllr Kellaway said it was nothing 'terribly dramatic'.

He added that there was no animosity between him and Cllr Burbage or a rift in the Conservative party.

"There are no great policy differences," said Cllr Kellaway.

"We both want the same things for our residents such as low taxes and good roads.

"David's been the leader for 10 years and I just thought some fresh ideas might help, but there is certainly no animosity."

Cllr Kellaway added that he didn't expect there to be dramatic changes to the party's leadership in the next couple of years.

Cllr Burbage has been leader of the Conservative party since 2003, and leader of the council since 2007, when the party won the election.

He was unavailable for comment.