VETERAN Tory Ken Thornber has been reselected as leader of Hampshire County Council for a fourth term.

He was reinstalled on Monday, when county councillors – including 22 newcomers – met for the first time in Winchester since the June 4 elections.

However, Councillor Thornber was missing because he was recuperating from an accident at home where he slipped and damaged his ribs.

Welcoming new and returning councillors, deputy leader Cllr Roy Perry said democracy still worked in Hampshire, despite problems on the national political stage.

He said: “Despite the events in Westminster that surround elections and the profound damage done to the democratic process by creating difficulties for all political parties, there is still no method that beats democratic elections.

“Those old-fashioned ballot boxes with the votes from the electors are what give us our authority.”

He added: “We are looking forward to a positive and active four years maintaining the traditional high standards of the county council.”

Councillors Ray Ellis, Jonathan Glen, Felicity Hindson, Mel Kendal, David Kirk, Margaret Snaith and Colin Davidovitz were selected to sit alongside Cllrs Perry and Thornber in the Cabinet.

The new county chairman is Cllr Tim Knight, while Cllr Carol Leversha was elected as vice-chairman.

There are now 51 Conservative county councillors, 25 Liberal Democrats, one Labour and one independent.