A 28-year-old councillor is favourite to become the next leader of Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council.

Cllr Matt Boughton was elected as the new Conservative group leader at a private meeting of the party last night, and with the Conservatives holding 39 of the 54 seats on the council, he is certain to be elected as the next leader of the borough when a full council meeting is held on Tuesday.

The vacancy arose after the surprise decision last month by the former Conservative party leader, Cllr Nicolas Heslop, to step down from both roles mid-term.

Cllr Heslop is remaining as a back-bench councillor.

Cllr Boughton, who lives in Whitefriars Wharf, Tonbridge, has represented Medway Ward since May 2019.

He had previously served as Conservative councillor on Maidstone Borough Council, representing Fant Ward from 2015 to 2019. He lived in Maidstone at the time.

His election on Tuesday will be for the remaining portion of Cllr Heslop's period of office - two years until May 2023.

Cllr Boughton was educated at Oakwood Grammar School in Maidstone and has a politics degree from Sussex University. He is 28.

He works for the Tonbridge and Malling MP, Conservative Tom Tugendhat.

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