​THANET council will have a new leader from May.

Kingsgate’s Cllr Bob Bayford was chosen to take on the top job after beating Ramsgate’s John Kirby in a vote by Conservative district councillors  on Wednesday night.

Cllr Bayford, who is also a Kent county councillor, will take the place of Cllr Ezekiel and will serve as ‘leader-elect’ until the annual meeting of the council in May.

Speaking on Thursday Cllr Bayford said: “I’m really pleased, it is going to be a challenge and one I am really looking forward to.”

Cllr Ezekiel served as leader of the Thanet Tory party for 11 years and was leader of the council for seven. He did not rule out taking on new political challenges such as standing for a county council seat.

He told the Isle of Thanet Gazette: “Would that be something I would want to do? Probably yes. I think I have skills and ability that could help at a county level.”

Cllr Bayford could continue as both a county and district councillor even as leader of Thanet council; half of all district councils in Kent are led by people who are also county councillors, said Cllr Ezekiel.