THERE could be a new King of the Castle in Winchester tomorrow.

The Conservative group on the county council, which swept back to power albeit with a dented majority courtesy of UKIP, is due to vote for a leader in the party’s annual general meeting on Tuesday (May 7).

Veteran council boss Ken Thornber, 80, has annoounced he is standing down from the leadership role.

Deputy leader Mel Kendal and chief of children’s services Roy Perry have thrown their hats into the ring.

Councillor Kendal is also understood to be standing for the deputy leader post against former MP Keith Mans, Cabinet member for communities and international relations. Both are New Forest councillors.

One Conservative insider said there had been no “handing over of the reins.” Nor did Mr Thornber say goodbye as leader at April’s full council meeting.

The council boss promised to stand down in May 2012 – only to pull a shock U-turn at the eleventh hour.

Claiming many colleagues had privately urged him to continue as leader for a 14th year, Cllr Thornber forced a vote in a dramatic behind-the-scenes meeting and beat Cllr Perry by 25 votes to 23.

Outraged supporters of Cllr Perry accused Mr Thornber of breaking his promise –and the issue split the party.

Cllr Perry had been due to go head-to-head with his rival in May 2011 but withdrew after Cllr Thornber promised to quit as leader 12 months later.

In a leaked email Councillor Jonathan Glen called on the Cllr Thornber to confirm he would stand down in this year’s AGM.

He wrote: “There will be a small coterie of devotees who will be at his door appealing for him to linger on again.”