A former senior Conservative councillor has been rejected by his group to defend his seat at Bradford Council’s elections in May The decision to oust Coun Adrian Naylor (Craven) was made in a secret ballot by a panel of judges selected by the Keighley and Ilkley Conservative Association.

Coun Naylor, who was a member of the powerful executive when the Conservatives led the Council, has lodged an appeal.

A hearing was due to take place last Friday, but it was adjourned as Coun Naylor demanded that his appeal was considered by an independent panel.

Dorothy Clamp, chairman of the Keighley and Ilkley Conservative Association, said: “The party has said that everybody, including sitting councillors, need to be approved by a panel made up of various people to see whether they should stand for selection for a seat next May.

“There were ten people who went through this process, including myself. Each person was asked four questions and there was a secret ballot. As a result, Adrian was not approved for standing next May.”

Coun Clamp said Coun Naylor was allowed to appeal against the process, but would not be able to appeal against the decision as it had been a secret ballot.

She stressed Coun Naylor had not been de-selected and would remain a councillor until the election in May. She said she could not comment on why Coun Naylor had not been approved.