THE Conservative group on City of York Council has elected Coun Chris Steward as its new leader.

He replaces Coun Ian Gillies, who is to become Lord Mayor in 2014/15.

Coun Steward, 33, a life-long York resident, said: “I am greatly looking forward to building on the group’s progress to date and ensuring that we continue to hold Labour accountable for their many failings, from cutting residents’ salt bins to their misjudged rush into the West Yorkshire Combined Authority.

“Our group is looking towards the council elections in 2015 and we will be working relentlessly to get rid of this terrible Labour administration which is doing so much harm to the city of York.”

Coun Steward’s election means York has one of the youngest political scenes in the region, with all three main parties led by councillors in their early-30s.

Coun Steward, who represents Rural West York on the council, prompted controversy a year ago by saying there was no real poverty in Britain and saying that those who donated to food banks enabled people who could not budget, or did not want to, to spend more on alcohol and cigarettes.

Labour leader James Alexander said: “I wish Councillor Steward well as the new leader of the opposition and I look forward to him announcing where he now stands on the big issues facing York.

"I already disagree with his view that being council leader should be a part time a job.”