TENDRING Council’s Conservative group is expected to appoint its new leader later this month.

Paul Honeywood will remain as interim leader at Tendring Council until February when councillors vote for a successor to Peter Halliday who sensationally quit last month.

Mr Honeywood said: “We now have to call a meeting of the group to appoint a new group leader.

“There will be a vote and whoever wins that vote becomes the group leader.

“I would expect that person to go forward to be our candidate for leadership at the February full council meeting.

“All our members will rally behind the one who is chosen.”

Mr Honeywood, who is also cabinet member for housing, benefits and revenues and sports facilities, is not putting himself forward for the role.

He said: “I’m happy doing the job I’m doing and don’t have any ambition to be leader of the council.”

He said Tory councillors were “shocked” by Mr Halliday’s resignation, but the Conservative party would get on with the job of electing its new leader in January.