TEIGNBRIDGE Liberal Democrat councillors were saddened to hear Leader, Gordon Hook, announce his decision to step down from the role at their Group meeting.

Gordon, Leader since 2015, announced he was stepping down after many years of service to his constituents and Liberal Democrats. 

Group Chair, Cllr Dave Rollason, thanked Gordon for his inspiring leadership which had taken the Liberal Democrats from third place to an outright majority on the council.

Cllrs Alistair Dewhirst, Deputy Leader, Cllr Martin Wrigley, Parliamentary spokesman, Cllr Huw Cox, Group Secretary, Cllr Lin Goodman-Bradbury, Convener, and many of the councillors attending the meeting via ‘Zoom’ all spoke praising Gordon’s leadership.

Cllr Dewhirst said: ‘Gordon has been my friend for nearly twenty 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.’

Cllr Dewhirst will be interim Group Leader until elections take place on Thursday, August 27. Cllr Gordon Hook will formally resign from the Council Leadership at the Full Council meeting on September 3 and the new Group Leader will stand for election.