Deputy leader dumped by Horsham Tories set to join South Downs Conservative association

Helena Croft was not reselected by the Horsham Conservative Association as a candidate to contest her current ward of Roffey North at May’s elections.

But according to one current South Downs councillor Mrs Croft, still Horsham District Council’s deputy leader and cabinet member, is set to join the ASDCA, which covers the southern half of the Horsham district.

Speaking last month she said she was ‘clearly disappointed by the decision’ not to be reselected, while Ray Dawe, leader of HDC, added: “I shall greatly miss her support and think the council will be a poorer place without her.”

Mr Dawe continued: “I truly hope that Helena will soon return to an elected position for the Conservative Party. In the meantime, she remains the elected deputy leader of the council until May.”

Currently the Tories hold all the HDC seats covered by the association apart from two independents in Henfield and Steyning, both of whom are standing down in May.

When the County Times approached the association about its candidates for Henfield earlier this month the newspaper was told that they had not yet been selected by members.

Both Mrs Croft and the Arundel and South Downs Conservative Association have been approached for comment.