TORIES on the county council have voted for Shona Johnstone as their new leader- her winning total of votes equalling those of her two defeated rivals. Councillor Johnstone saw off opponents Councillor Victor Lucas and John Powley to become the county cou

TORIES on the county council have voted for Shona Johnstone as their new leader- her winning total of votes equalling those of her two defeated rivals.

Councillor Johnstone saw off opponents Councillor Victor Lucas and John Powley to become the county council's youngest ever leader.

Cllr Johnstone, 44, has been a member of the council since 1993. Since May, 2005, she has been Cabinet Member for Children and Young People's Services responsible for the education and social care of children and young people throughout the county - including special educational needs, fostering and adoption services.

She is well known in the Fens not only for her recent work at Queen's School, Wisbech, where she has helped the re-organisation but also in March where she intervened to in the campaign for a roundabout at the Goosetree junction on the A141.

Her election as the new group leader and nomination for leadership of the council came after Councillor Keith Walters stepped down from both roles following a decade in charge.