IAN Edwards has been elected the new leader of Hillingdon Conservative Group of councillors.

The 43-strong group held an extraordinary meeting on Monday to elect a successor to Sir Ray Puddifoot, who announced last month he was standing down. 

As Hillingdon is under Conservative administration, it means Cllr Edwards will become the new council leader at a meeting of the full council in January.  

He said: “I am deeply honoured to be given this great opportunity to continue our policy of ‘putting residents first’, a message that resonates with so many across our borough.  

“I will now begin to assemble a team that will continue delivering on resident priorities and all the services they value,

“I would also like to place on record my thanks and appreciation to Sir Ray, who has done a brilliant job over the past 20 years in leading our group and Hillingdon Council.” 

Ian Edwards has been a councillor in Hillingdon since 2014 and currently represents Eastcote and East Ruislip ward.  

He has held a number of positions, including chairman of the Central & South Planning Committee and chairman of the Social Care, Housing & Public Health Policy Overview Committee. 

Prior to being elected, he was a borough commander in the Met Police.