Wiltshire Council’s Liberal Democrat leader, Ian Thorn, has said he is “honoured” to have been unanimously re-elected by the group for the seventh time.

The election was held on Saturday, July 27, and deputy leader Cllr Gordon King, chair Cllr Clare Cape, and secretary Cllr David Vigar were also all re-elected unanimously. 

Cllr Thorn, who represents Calne Central, has been on Wiltshire Council for 12 years and has led the Lib Dems since 2017.

He said: “We have just had a fantastic result for the Liberal Democrats in the general election, nationally and locally, with two of our councillors, Sarah Gibson and Brian Mathew, being elected as Wiltshire MPs.

“This gives us a great platform for the Wiltshire Council elections which are now less than a year away.”

He added: “Wiltshire Council has been led by Conservatives since its inception in 2009 and next year we have a once-in-a-generation chance for change and a brighter future for the country.

“We would do things differently.

“We will publish our plans in the coming months but what I can say now is that we will seek to involve local people more in the decisions that affect their lives and work more closely with the volunteers, charities, clubs and groups that are so vital to our community life.”