Lynne Hillan trounces opposition in Barnet leadership challenge

COUNCILLOR Lynne Hillan won the Barnet leadership race by a convincing majority, a senior Tory source has revealed.

COUNCILLOR Lynne Hillan won the Barnet leadership race by a convincing majority, a senior Tory source has revealed.

At a group meeting on Tuesday Barnet Conservatives voted for who they wanted to lead their party and Cllr Hillan won by a majority of nine – the largest the party has seen for many years and more than former leader Mike Freer secured on his election as leader.

Cllr Hillan had been facing a leadership challenge from Hendon councillor Mark Shooter which was sparked by controversy surrounding her proposals to hike councillors’ allowances by up to 50 per cent.

That was approved by the council in July and although she has since reversed the decision, Cllr Shooter, who was elected in May, urged colleagues to vote for him for a fresh start to leave “Allowance-gate” behind.

But the group voted to keep Cllr Hillan by a convincing majority. The source said: “She had a bigger majority than the last three leaders put together.”