Councillor Anne Hawkesworth was tonight voted by her party to be the leader of Bradford Council’s Conservative group.

She replaces Kris Hopkins, who will take his seat as MP for Keighley and Ilkley when Parliament resumes.

Councillor Hawkesworth, who is Bradford Council’s executive member for environment and culture, said she was “absolutely delighted” to now be leading the group.

She said her priorities as leader would be to improve education standards, community cohesion and the economy throughout the Bradford district.

“I am absolutely delighted that the group has put such a lot of faith in me,” she said. “I am intending to do the best job I can for the group and for Bradford.”

Conservative members voted Coun Hawkesworth in with a “substantial majority” at last night’s meeting.

Glen Miller, ward member for the Worth Valley, was elected the Conservative deputy leader, with Mike Ellis (Bingley Rural) as the group’s new chief whip, a position Coun Hawkesworth has held for 19 years.

Uncertainty still surrounds who will be chosen as Bradford Council’s leader, because of gains made by Labour in the local Council elections at the expense of the Conservatives.

The Labour group was left with 39 seats – still short of a working majority – but seven more than the Conservatives’ 32. The Lib Dems were up one to 14.

It leaves either of the two largest parties still in need of Lib Dem backing to control the 90-strong Council chamber.

As the new Conservative group leader, Coun Hawkesworth will now have to attempt to broker an agreement with Lib Dem leader Jeanette Sunderland.

The new Council leader will be announced on May 25.

Coun Hawkesworth said: “Nobody can take anything for granted because there are still negotiations to go through with the different groups.

“There will be meetings later on this week (to discuss the make-up of the next Council) but we must remember that the Lib Dems do not have their annual general meeting until next Monday so we will have to see what happens after that.”