HEREFORDSHIRE Council’s triumphant Tories go into a leadership election on Thursday.

Tony Johnson is tipped to keep the job having steered the group through survival as a minority administration to return with a five seat majority over its combined opposition - and 17 seats ahead of its nearest rivals It’s Our County (IOC).

But, despite the unexpected margin of victory, the Hereford Times understands that a challenge to Coun Johnson's leadership could emerge as the meeting convenes.

Within Tory circles, the outcome of any challenge - should it be made - is pitched as "not predictable".

As yet, no member of the group has publically committed to a challenge beyond hinting at the possibility.

The leadership election is not a commentary on Coun Johnson.

Instead, the group’s constitution requires that a leader is elected each year.

The group wanted a leader in place ahead of the first meeting of the new full council at Hereford Shirehall on May 22.

With that leader in place, the group will outline how it will pursue its priorities like Hereford’s southern link road and western by-pass.

A Tory win does mean the council’s cabinet system will stay, nor is there any immediate prospect of the post of chief executive being abolished – which would have come into play under some coalition plans pitched behind the scenes.

Caught out by the extent of that win, opposition parties who had been concentrating on coalition options are instead fighting for representation on the new council’s committees – a fight that could turn ugly on the 22nd.

The challenge facing It’s Our County is to end introspection over what might have been - and shut out shrill noises off - to focus on leading effective, politically realistic, opposition  – albeit with 12 seats to the Tories 29.

Group leader Anthony Powers stays in place for now, and, though twelve councillors was a lot less that IOC hoped for – or expected – there were notable victories and substantial majorities to celebrate.

Loss margins in many wards ranged from less than 20 to a mere four, tight enough to ease the learning curve the group is still on.

“From a standing start in 2011 these results are a very considerable achievement for a new party, perhaps unique in the UK.

“They give us a great foundation on which to build towards the 2019 local elections,” said IOC chairman John Harrington.

Coun Bob Matthews will stay on – at least for the foreseeable future - as leader of a reduced Independent group that also expected (much) more.

Coun Matthews admitted that the days subsequent to the election had been a “difficult time” as he considered the future direction of the group which still has its share of old hands.

“But we lost good councillors and saw good candidates lose out,” he said.

The demise of the Lib Dems as a force in county politics has been heavy from their heyday.

Lib Dem leader Terry James – returned unopposed in Kington – said two seats reflected the national swing against the party.

But old campaigner Polly Andrews still pulled off a win in Widemarsh that IOC had high hopes for.

Also back with two seats are the Greens who didn’t make the breakthrough in Leominster South that seemed likely.

But the Greens have a difference to make on  Leominster Town Council where they hold the majority.