Bury Conservatives elect new leader after previous boss defected to Reform

Saturday, 18 October 2025 18:10

By Chris Gee

The Conservative group on Bury council has elected a new leader after the previous boss defected to Reform.

Bury West ward councillor Shabaz Arif will take on the role after previous Tory chief Jack Rydeheard jumped ship to become the borough’s first Reform representative earlier this month.

The Conservative group has seen a number of councillors quit this year. with another previous leader – Russell Bernstein – along with three other councillors resigning in July.

Coun Bernstein; his former deputy Jo Lancaster; Luis McBriar; and Dene Vernon now sit as independents after citing divisions within the local party as their reason for leaving the Conservatives.

The defection of Coun Rydeheard means the group has just five councillors at the town hall.

Coun Arif will be supported by Coun Jackie Harris as deputy. Coun Arif said: “It is an honour to have been chosen by my colleagues to lead the group.

“Our borough deserves a strong and united opposition that holds the administration to account, speaks up for local people, and offers constructive solutions to the challenges we face.

“I’m proud to work alongside Coun Jackie Harris as part of a team that is committed to delivering real value for residents, supporting local businesses, protecting our precious green belt, and ensuring every part of Bury has the opportunity to thrive.

“Housing remains one of the most important issues facing our communities. We want to see homes that are genuinely affordable for local people, built in the right places with proper infrastructure but not at the expense of our green spaces.

“Conservative councillors in Bury will always do what we can to protect our green belt.

He added that his team’s focus will remain on supporting small businesses, revitalising town centres, and protecting the local environment, ensuring Bury remains a great place to live, work, and invest.

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