Leadership challenge to determine council's future

The Liberal Democrat leader of Harborough District Council has said the pressure is on his Tory opponents ahead of a bid to remove him from the position.

Phil Knowles has led a 16-strong coalition of Liberal Democrat, Labour, Green and independent councillors since 2023 on the finely balanced authority.

The Conservatives, who also have 16 councillors, hope to replace him with their own group leader Simon Whelband, after submitting a motion to be debated at a special council meeting on Monday.

"It's business as usual for us," Knowles said.

"This is democracy and the Tories have a right to make this challenge but having called this meeting the pressure is on them to try to get support for their motion.

"It's not guaranteed that they will have the number [of votes] to do it."

Whelband said: "We have the largest number of councillors on Harborough District Council, representing areas right across the district, and we think the time is right to take over.

"We have our own ideas we want to put forward and the coalition is losing votes left, right and centre, so we'll put it to a vote and see what happens."

Whelband said Knowles' administration had struggled to get its business through the council chamber chamber citing Conservative success in securing major amendments to the coalition's 2026/27 budget.

Whelband added: "The current administration no longer commands an effective majority.

"The current administration no longer reflects the will of the council, and it is right that the leadership of the council should now rest with its largest single political group."

If the Tories succeed in passing the leadership motion on Monday, the party will appoint a new cabinet and take control of the authority.

Knowles said: "I stand by our record over the last three years.

"We have achieved more than the Tories did in 20 years before us.

"There has been a multimillion-pound investment in our leisure centres and our community grant scheme.

"I think public opinion is behind us and we have important projects to deliver.

"That's what we intend to carry on doing."

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