Brighton and Hove Tories pick new deputy leader

The Brighton and Hove Conservative group of councillors has elected Dee Simson to be its new deputy leader.

Councillor Simson, who represents Woodingdean, replaces Westbourne councillor Denise Cobb who is due to become the Mayor of Brighton and Hove next month.

Councillor Simson will also be the group whip for the Conservatives, who are the main opposition party on Brighton and Hove City Council.

The Tories won 18 of the council’s 54 seats at the local elections in May 2011.

The group held its annual general meeting (AGM) last night (Monday 29 April) and re-elected Councillor Geoffrey Theobald as group leader.

Councillor Theobald, who represents Patcham, said: “I am delighted that my colleagues have given me the honour of leading the Conservative Group for another year and I would like to thank them for their support.

“I have an excellent and united team behind me and we are confident about what the future holds.”

Councillor Garry Peltzer Dunn, who represents Wish ward, was re-elected as the group’s other deputy leader.

He said: “I have thoroughly enjoyed being the group’s deputy leader for the past two years and so I’m delighted to be able to continue in the role.

“We are halfway through the current electoral cycle and the countdown to 2015 begins now.”

All three were elected unopposed.

Councillor Simson said: “It is great to be back as one of the group’s deputy leaders and I would like to thank my colleagues for all the support they have given me.

“I am now looking forward to getting stuck into the hard work that lies ahead.”