Deputy leader Adam Brown chosen as replacement for disgraced West Northants Tory Jonathan Nunn

The leadership was a shoo-in as Cllr Brown was the only contender, so did not face a vote

By Sarah Ward

Cllr Brown will be deputised by Cllr Golby (right)

Cllr Adam Brown has been picked as the new leader of the West Northants Tories and will become the new leader of the authority.

The group was thrown into turmoil earlier this month after former leader Jonathan Nunn was forced to stand down when a number of women came forward with new allegations of domestic abuse against him.

At the AGM held in Towcester Forum last night, Cllr Nunn, who denies all the allegations against him, was replaced by Cllr Brown, who did not face a challenge for his leadership.

Three councillors put themselves forward as deputy, with Cllr Matt Golby, the last leader of the ill-fated county council, winning out over rivals Cllr James Hill and Cllr Daniel Lister.

Cllr James Hill had put himself up as a change candidate, after publicly saying Nunn should go.

Only a handful of his 60 plus Conservative colleagues have joined him in their condemnation of Cllr Nunn, who was convicted of a vicious assault on his then wife Janice in the early 2000s. In recent weeks a number of other women have spoken to NN Journal, Private Eye (which originally revealed the allegations) and the BBC about what they have experienced.

But while Cllr Nunn, may have stood down, the issue of how the council has handled domestic abuse has not gone away.

The authority’s chief executive Anna Earnshaw wrote to independent Cllr Paul Clark who was trying to expose the allegations in the council chamber, saying that ‘domestic abuse is a personal matter’. This led charities who work with survivors in the county to write an open letter to say that stance was ‘dangerous’ and could prevent women coming forward for fear they won’t be believed.

Anna Earnshaw said domestic abuse was a ‘personal matter’

Cllr Brown, who represents Bugbrooke has not condemned his former colleague, but has apologised to domestic abuse victims who feel let down by the way the council has handled the situation.

NN Journal asked Cllr Brown a series of questions last week including whether Cllr Nunn was still welcomed as a member of the party but we did not get a response beyond his issued statement.

Cllr Nunn has not had the whip removed so remains a Conservative. He attended last night’s meeting and was the nominee for new vice chair Cllr Alison Eastwood.

A march has been planned to take place in Northampton town centre on May 16, the day of the west unitary’s annual council meeting, at which Cllr Brown will be made leader. It is thought the cabinet may remain largely the same, although there could be a change in the children’s portfolio following what is expected to be a damning Ofsted report of SEND provision.