Westminster’s new leader will be Cllr Philippa Roe after she defeated Cllr Ed Argar in a tight leadership contest last night (Wednesday).
The cabinet member for strategic finance received 26 votes to Cllr Argar’s 22 in the second round of voting at a private meeting of Westminster’s Conservative councillors.
The first round of voting saw the third candidate Cllr Glenys Roberts eliminated from the contest after receiving just three votes.
Cllr Roe, who represents the Knightsbridge and Belgravia ward, was first elected to the council in 2006.
She left her role as director of financial services firm Citigroup when she gave birth to twins and decided that a City career was incompatible with being a mother.
Having held the housing portfolio she then took over the strategic finance cabinet post.
Cllr Roe will now be formally sworn in as Westminster Council leader at a full council meeting on March 7.
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