The besieged Tory leader of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council (TWBC) will tonight find out if he has won his battle to keep his position.

A vote by councillors at the local Conservative Party's annual general meeting (AGM) will decide whether Cllr Alan McDermott gets to stay in post at the head of the authority.

It comes after calls from opposition members for him to step aside.

Last month they signed an open letter calling for a vote of no confidence against Cllr McDermott saying they felt the pandemic has exposed weak leadership in the Tories.

Ring-leader David Hayward from the Tunbridge Wells Alliance Group said he wanted to see more transparency.

In response to the threat, Cllr McDermott said launching the motion "in the middle of the biggest health scare in a generation" was an "outrage".

But after cracks also appeared within his own party, Cllr McDermott will tonight defend his position against fellow Conservative TWBC Cllr, Paul Barrington-King.

Cllr Barrington King had put himself forward to take over from previous leader, David Jukes, after he lost his seat to Lucy Willis of the alliance in the May local elections.

His attempt was unsuccessful meaning Cllr McDermott, also the ward councillor for Brenchley and Horsmonden, took over.

The AGM was due to be held back in May but was postponed as a result of Covid-19.

Instead, Conservative councillors will meet this evening to cast their votes.

Read more: All the latest news from Tunbridge Wells