WINCHESTER City Council was tonight (WED) set to elect a new leader, widely expected to be Conservative George Beckett.

The Conservatives and Liberal Democrats both have 27 councillors giving power to two Independents and one Labour member.

Those three councillors are thought to view Mr Beckett more favourably than the Lib Dem leader Kelsie Learney who has led the authority for the last year.

Barry Lipscomb, a Conservative, is due to be elected mayor and his casting vote, should the Independents and Labour abstain, would be crucial.

But Cllr George Beckett, who had said after the elections on May 5 that he expected to become leader, was more cautious this week, saying: “It’s finely balanced. I’m ready to be leader if elected on Wednesday evening.”