Lib Dems elect McBride as new Leader

11.33.02pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 10th May 2005

The Liberal Democrats on Bromley Council have elected Cray Valley East Councillor David McBride as their new Leader. He takes over from Orpington Councillor Chris Maines, who has stood down after fourteen years in the job.

Cllr David McBride, 31, was elected to the Council in 1998 and has previously been the Environment and Leisure spokesman for his party. He works as a teacher in another London Borough.

After being elected, Cllr McBride said he was honoured to accept the task and pledged to hold the Conservatives to account in Bromley. "Bromley is a good place to live in but it can be better and it needs to be better for our residents," he said. "Our roads are crumbling, our local environment is deteriorating and our social services and services for the young people remain underfunded. These are all issues which we will be highlighting in the next year."

Cllr McBride also paid tribute to former Leader Cllr Chris Maines. "Chris has done a fantastic job in raising the profile of the Liberal Democrats and Liberal Democrat ideals in Bromley. I am proud to follow in his footsteps," he said.