A senior councillor has said Harrow Council’s Labour group needs to be open and honest about why it replaced its leader.

Councillor Susan Hall, the Conservative group leader, said the residents have a right to know why the person who holds the highest public office in the borough was suddenly replaced.

On Monday April 15 Cllr David Perry, portfolio holder for community and cultural services, was voted in as the new group leader - and the authority's new leader - at his party’s annual general meeting.

He will replace Cllr Thaya Idiakkadar after the next full council meeting on May 23 when a new council leader will be formally elected.

Cllr Hall said she did not see the change coming, and is despairing at some of the decisions the authority has been making.

She said: “An explanation is required.

“It’s a difficult situation and obviously I don’t know what is happening in their group, however it does seem strange.

“There may be a good reason – I have no idea what it could be – but they should be open and honest about it.”

Liberal Democrat councillor Christopher Noyce said residents do deserve an answer but it is up the group members to choose a leader.

He said: “The position of council leader is a bit of a poisoned chalice at the minute.

“I will not be voting in favour nor will I vote against it so the decision is theirs.

“In the end I don’t think it will make a great deal of difference because it will still be the same Labour group just with a different person at the top.”

In a statement, Harrow council's Labour Group said: “In the Harrow Labour Group there is a long-standing tradition of an annual AGM process in which all positions are elected year on year.

"Discussion and debate within the Labour group surrounding all internal elections are private and confidential and remain within the confines of the group.

"The residents of Harrow can be assured and have every confidence in the leadership and wider Labour administration at Harrow Council.

"Collectively, we have a strong record of standing up for Harrow and despite the huge cuts in funding from central government, we will all continue to work hard and fight for the people of Harrow this year and beyond."