LESLEY Clarke has today announced she is to stand down as leader of Wycombe District Council.

She made the declaration this afternoon after news of her re-election as councillor for the Abbey ward broke.

Cllr Clarke will remain a member of WDC, and will only be relinquishing her role as leader.

She described the move as a “family decision”.

She said: “Sometimes it’s good to have a change at the top. I feel the council has done a lot and there is still a lot more to do.”

Cllr Clarke added she had been “privileged” and “honoured” to serve as the leader of the council since 2003 but felt after eight years it was time to stand aside.

She told the Bucks Free Press this afternoon that the public vitriol directed towards her over the controversial stadium plan for Booker has been hard to take.

She said: “I have found that very hurtful. I am a person, I have feelings, some of those comments have been very personal and very hurtful. I am not corrupt.”

She said if the Conservatives win the majority of district council seats again the new leader of WDC will be decided tomorrow.

There is speculation that candidates for the role of leader could include Richard Scott of Marlow and current deputy leader Tony Green.

Former leader Roger Colomb and former deputy David Carroll, as well as Alex Collingwood who is chairman of the council’s scrutiny committee, are also in the running - however these suggestions are unconfirmed.

The contest will be in the style of the US presidential “ticket”, with each prospective leader standing together with their deputy.

What do you think? Who should replace Cllr Clarke as leader? Leave your comments below.

Follow our election coverage live, where this news was broken, on the link below and get involved on Twitter by #bfpelections.

See the Bucks Free Press website for updates on this story over the weekend.