Criminal Record has brought together a round-up of today’s biggest crime stories.

Every day on Criminal Record we will be bringing you a round-up of the biggest crime stories of the day.

If you love to read about crime in Scotland – this is the place to be every day.

Here’s what has been making the news across the country on Sunday.

Young family garage worker gunned down

Advertisement

Gang war victim Michael Lyons was a young family garage worker who was gunned down in a broad daylight hit. The 21-year-old was the nephew of David Lyons and Eddie Lyons Snr – at the time, the leader of the crime family.

He was also the cousin of Steven Lyons, the current head of the criminal organisation who was arrested in Bali in March. While Michael came from the crime family, those who knew him suggested he was not a central figure.

His death was a pivotal moment in the multi-decade feud between the Lyons and Daniel crime families. On December 6 2006, two men in a blue Mazda pulled up outside Applerow Motors in Lambhill.

Raymond Anderson and James McDonald put on old man face masks before stepping out of the car. What happened next was later likened by defence lawyer Donald Findlay KC to “a scene from The Godfather”.

READ MORE: Gang war victim Michael Lyons was young family garage worker gunned down in broad daylight hit

Crime boss snared for importing drugs unmasked

A crime boss twice snared for importing huge amounts of drugs into Scotland can be unmasked as the head of two extreme dog breeding organisations.

William Byrne is behind bars awaiting sentence after pleading guilty over a £1.6million drug ring which saw him and his associates sneaking drugs into Scotland from the Netherlands.

Supercar-driving Byrne, who was first outed as an international drug smuggler in 2010, served as head of the American Bully Kennel Club (ABKC) UK.

The 41-year-old also runs American bully breeding business Dynamight Kennels and has used his love of dogs to help him in his drug smuggling rings.

READ MORE: Crime boss snared for importing drugs unmasked as head of two extreme dog breeding firms

ASBO nightmare neighbour evicted after terror battle

Advertisement

A couple’s nightmare ASBO neighbour has been evicted after nearly two years terrorising them – caught on doorbell cam. Chris and Amy Masterson have lived fear of Peter Ferguson and his campaign of verbal abuse and threats.

Ferguson was captured on camera calling Amy a “f*****g w***e,” and the couple were left barricading their own doors after a threat to petrol bomb their car.

After Amy and Chris contacted police, Ferguson was given an antisocial behaviour order but breached the terms at least seven times.

Finally, after what the pair described as am ongoing “toxic” situation, South Lanarkshire Council have confirmed that Ferguson has been evicted.

READ MORE: Couple’s ASBO nightmare neighbour evicted after two-year terror battle

Man rushed to hospital after ‘disturbance’ in Glasgow

A man has been rushed to hospital with serious injuries following a “disturbance” in Glasgow. The alarm was raised at around 9.40pm on Saturday, May 2 when officers were alerted to an incident.

Emergency services, including Police Scotland, raced to Alderman Road in the Knightswood area of the city. A 25-year-old man was taken to hospital for treatment to what are described as serious injuries.

His current condition is not yet known. Motorists and pedestrians are being prevented from getting near while cops carry out enquiries.

A police presence remains in the area this morning so any members of the public with information or questions can approach them.

READ MORE: Man rushed to hospital with serious injuries after ‘disturbance’ in Glasgow

Get more Daily Record exclusives by signing up for free to Google’s preferred sources. Click HERE.

For Russell, this cannot be an easy moment in his career. A Mercedes protege himself, he has waited eight years for this moment – the best car, with Mercedes.

Last year, he was comfortably the better driver of the two; only rarely did Antonelli get the better of him. So he earned his status as pre-season championship favourite.

The Briton, 28, lived up to that when he won the first race of the season in Australia from pole position, but since then things have gone against him.

A technical problem almost certainly robbed him of pole in China and handed it to Antonelli, who converted it into a maiden win. A safety car intervened to hand the victory in Japan to Antonelli, when without it most likely either McLaren’s Oscar Piastri or Russell would have won.

But there was no doubt about the Miami win. Antonelli put it on pole. Russell was fifth on the grid, behind upgraded cars from the Red Bull, McLaren and Ferrari teams.

Antonelli made a sixth bad start in a row and lost ground. But he stayed calm, fought back, and grabbed the win from McLaren’s Lando Norris over the pit stop period.

Norris initially thought that was all about McLaren making a mistake by letting Mercedes pit first, not wanting to go too early with rain threatening.

But McLaren team principal Andrea Stella said the team still had the margin to stay ahead of Antonelli when they did stop three laps after him, but that a series of events conspired against them.

First, there was the time gained by what Stella called a “huge” first lap out of the pits by Antonelli after his stop. That risked overheating his tyres, which he would have to deal with later, but ensured he was still within striking range of the McLaren.

Then Norris made a couple of errors on his in-lap and had a slow stop. Combine all that, and it was enough to put Antonelli right on Norris’ tail when the McLaren came out of the pits. The Mercedes quickly swept past, and Antonelli held Norris off for the rest of the race.

Russell is keeping things in perspective, recognising there are still 18 races to go, and a lot can happen.

“Clearly he’s in a very good place at the moment and momentum is with him,” Russell said. “But, having got enough experience myself in championships I’ve won and how momentum swings throughout the year, and looking at the championship last year, to be honest, I’m not even considering it.

“It’s just that I want to get back on to the top step of the podium. The first three races, I had the performance to do that, but this weekend I absolutely did not have the performance to do that.

“So, I could be standing here now with three very different results in previous races, with this one being a bit of a one-off, but obviously things worked out differently in Japan and China, but that’s Formula 1 sometimes.”

Russell admitted that the “pace was really, really poor on my side”, and that he has never gelled with the Miami circuit and its low-grip surface and slow corners.

But Hill said: “You can’t have that, you can’t have a track that you don’t gel with. You’ve got to be good across everything. George now has to regroup, has to look at where he is at and what the new paradigm is.”

The 84-year-old was taken to hospital via ambulance after a sudden bout of sickness.

Football fans have rallied around Sir Alex Ferguson after the legend was rushed to hospital before the Manchester United vs Liverpool clash.

The former Manchester United and Aberdeen FC boss was expected to take in the Red Devils’ clash with Liverpool on Sunday. However, the 84-year-old was taken to hospital via ambulance after a sudden bout of sickness.

The move is just a precaution, according to Mail Online, and there is optimism that he will soon be recovering at home. It is understood the ordeal was not considered an emergency situation.

Following the news of his ordeal, fans have flocked to social media to offer the star their well wishes.

X user Adesh Shukla wrote on the platform: “Wishing a speedy recovery to Sir Alex Ferguson. Football aside, he’s a true legend of the game, and everyone will be hoping it’s nothing serious and that he’s back to full health soon.”

Sirls posted: “Get well soon Sir Alex Ferguson, we are all with you.”

Another user wrote: “A true legend of the game, wishing Sir Alex Ferguson strength and a full, speedy recovery. Football owes him so much.”

Another added: “I wish you well Sir Alex Ferguson. Quick recovery!”

Another X user commented: “Get well soon, legend.”

A source indicated that Sir Alex is doing “OK”, having sought precautionary medical attention ahead of the 3.30pm kick-off. Ferguson, a regular attendee at matches both home and away, was pictured on social media meeting guests at the ground before he started feeling unwell.

It is understood he was initially assessed in the tunnel area of the ground before being transported to hospital. Glasgow-born Ferguson suffered a serious health scare in 2018 following a brain haemorrhage. The star recovered after undergoing successful surgery.

Speaking about the scare in the 2021 film ‘Sir Alex Ferguson: Never Give In’, he said: “There were five brain haemorrhages that day. Three died. Two survived. You know you are lucky.”

Ferguson was the mastermind of the most successful period in United history. Taking over in 1986, he remained in charge until his retirement in 2013. United won 13 Premier League titles, five FA Cups, four League Cups and two Champions League titles during his time at the helm.

Ferguson has continued to be a prominent figure at the club since his retirement. He regularly appears at both home and away games to watch his former side. He was also handed an ambassadorial role at the club but saw that brought to an end by Sir Jim Ratcliffe as he attempted to cut costs at the club.

Ratcliffe said: “I sat down with Alex, just the two of us in the room. And I said, ‘Look, the club isn’t where you may think it is. It is spending more than it’s earning and we’re going to finish up in some difficulties. Honestly, we can’t really afford to continue to pay you £2m a year.

“I said, ‘I’m going to leave it with you, let you have a think about it.’ It was very grown up. Maybe a little bit grumpy at the beginning, but he got it. He came back three days later, after talking to his son and said, ‘Fine, I’m going to step away from it. My decision.’” Ratcliffe added: “I think it reflects really well on Alex because he put the club before himself.”

Ferguson heartbreakingly lost his wife Cathy in 2023. The pair were married for 57 years.

Get more Daily Record exclusives by signing up for free to Google’s preferred sources. Click HERE.

The state pension triple lock – long seen as untouchable – is facing mounting pressure

The state pension triple lock – long considered politically untouchable – is coming under increasing scrutiny as defence concerns and mounting pressure on public finances prompt a reassessment among Westminster’s top brass.

In a remarkable development, prominent figures from across the political spectrum are now publicly questioning whether Britain can continue to afford it. Former Tory chancellor Sir Jeremy Hunt and Labour veteran Baroness Harman have both challenged the consensus, suggesting the policy may no longer be viable.

Sir Jeremy cautioned that pensioners might reconsider their stance if they understood the burden being placed on younger generations, while Baroness Harman argued the system should be means-tested to help finance defence. The triple lock ensures pensions increase annually by whichever is highest: inflation, wage growth or 2.5%.

For years, challenging it was considered political suicide. Now MPs from all sides are indicating that the political consensus is changing.

Labour MP Graeme Downie stated there is “an appetite in all parties” to review the policy, noting that if welfare funding is redirected towards defence “there are no sacred cows”.

Pension growth outpaces workers

The scale of the rise has been dramatic. Since 2010, the state pension for a single person has climbed from £423 monthly to £1,048 – an increase of nearly 150%. During the same timeframe, average wages have grown by just 66%, while 55% inflation has eroded most real-terms gains for workers.

Expenditure on pensioners has also soared – from 3.3% of GDP in the mid-1980s to a forecast 5.4% by the early 2030s. The triple lock has been a significant driving force behind that increase, alongside a growing elderly population.

Economists caution that the policy is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain. Sir Charles Bean, former deputy governor of the Bank of England, said: “It’s a terrible policy… that is unsustainable.”

Defence pressures mount

The debate has been further fuelled by rising global instability and demands to increase defence expenditure. The UK currently allocates 2.4% of GDP to defence, however NATO allies have agreed to push this figure up to 3.5% by 2035. This would demand an additional £40bn annually – more than the combined budgets of the Home Office and Ministry of Justice. Simultaneously, welfare expenditure is on the rise, set to climb from 10.7% of GDP at the start of this Parliament to 11.2% by the next decade – equivalent to £406.9bn.

Of that total, pensioner benefits alone will reach £196bn, up £45bn in just six years. Former NATO chief Lord Robertson warned: “We cannot defend Britain with an ever-expanding welfare budget.”

Costs spiral beyond forecasts

When the triple lock was introduced in 2010, it was projected to cost £5.2bn annually by the late 2020s. That figure has since soared to £15.5bn owing to inflation shocks and robust wage growth.

Pensioners have seen repeated increases:

• 10.1% rise in 2023
• 8.5% rise in 2024

With fresh inflation risks tied to geopolitical tensions, costs could escalate further.

Widely backed but facing scrutiny

Despite the growing financial burden, the policy remains enormously popular. Polling indicates around 66% of voters support retaining it, while just 11% want it scrapped.

However, critics argue that such backing ignores the financial cost. Sir Charles said voters “always like having money spent on them if there’s no price tag attached”.

The shifting landscape of pensioner poverty

Advocates claim the triple lock was essential to reverse years of decline. Yet specialists say the issue it was designed to address has largely been resolved. Pensioner incomes now stand at around 84% of the population average before housing costs – an increase of 11 percentage points since 2000.

Poverty amongst pensioners has dropped to roughly 15%, down from over 25% in the 1990s. By contrast, children and working-age households are now at greater risk of falling into poverty.

Growing calls for reform

Behind closed doors, there is increasing acknowledgement in Westminster that change may be unavoidable. Nevertheless, both Labour and the Conservatives remain publicly dedicated to the triple lock for the time being.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has insisted manifesto pledges will be honoured, while shadow chancellor Sir Mel Stride said the Tories are “fully committed”.

What might replace it?

Specialists suggest the triple lock could be substituted with a more straightforward system:

• Linking pensions to earnings
• Or combining earnings with inflation protection

One estimate suggests this could save around 0.5% of GDP – roughly £15bn a year.

Jordan’s Yard used to be filled with shops and homes but is now ignored by most people who walk past it

As it is so old, the city of Cambridge has many tiny streets and alleyways to explore. If you have only visited Cambridge for a day, it is unlikely you would have been able to take a look around the whole city to find all of the hidden spots.

If you love history or want to know more about the city, it might be worth taking a walk around some of the smaller streets, as they are packed with hidden secrets. Jordan’s Yard is passed by residents and tourists every day but is almost always empty.

The entrance to Jordan’s Yard can be found along Bridge Street between two timber-framed buildings that were originally built in the early 16th century. Unless you are heading to the Clothing Alterations Company or Pizza Express, you probably wouldn’t stop to take a look down Jordan’s Yard.

It is believed the yard is named after Benjamin Jordan, who was a livery stable-keeper in the early 19th century. When the yard went up for sale in 1861, you could find five houses there, a farriery, a farmyard, a smithy, a garden, and stabling for up to 50 horses.

In the early 20th century, the yard was home to a few different businesses including a bedmaker, a blacksmith, and a painter. One of the homes was lived in by Professor Mayor, who was the president of St John’s College and known for his work on Latin Literature.

The yard and its buildings were almost completely lost in World War Two. During the night on July 27 in 1942, Allin’s Garage was hit directly be a 250kg HE bomb, which caused the houses next to the repair shop to collapse.

Nowadays, the yard is home to the Arts Club Cambridge and the old Curry King restaurant that closed in October last year after the managers decided to retire. The yard also leads into the Wilde Aparthotel where you can find Oscar’s bar, which is open to both guests of the hotel and the general public.

Between Star Wars: Galactic Racer and Zero Company, video games have become the most promising reason to stay invested in the galaxy far, far away.

Ever since Star Wars was first released in 1977, its existence as a franchise has been closely entwined with video games. It started with 1982’s The Empire Strikes Back tie-in on the Atari 2600, and the Star Wars arcade game a year later, and ever since then there’s been a steady stream of action games, flight sims, strategy titles, and much more.

Fast forward to 2026, and Star Wars as a franchise is in a strange place. Enthusiasm for new movies has never felt lower, with The Mandalorian And Grogu tracking lower than Solo: A Star Wars Story in early box office projections. Similarly, on the TV side of things, after the magnificence of Andor, the prospect of The Mandalorian season four or Ahsoka season two feels like a continuation of the uninspired, tired trudgery which eroded all the enthusiasm to begin with.

On a personal level, I’ve been largely checked out of Star Wars since (shudder) Obi-Wan Kenobi. However, my prequel nostalgia has been resurrected into a pedal-pushing overdrive by the thrumming engines of Sebulba’s pod racer.

Aside from Mina The Hollower and the inevitable GTA 6 hurricane, few games this year are instilling as much gut-level anticipation for me as Star Wars: Galactic Racer. It’s combining the best thing about Star Wars: Episode 1 – The Phantom Menace, a sacred text for my younger self, and a longing yearn for another racer with the thumping polish of Burnout 3: Takedown.

Star Wars: Galactic Racer is from Fuse Games, a studio founded by former Criterion leads who worked on Burnout. We’ve only seen brief trailers, but between the electrifying engine sound effects, and the first person perspective of weaving around the Mos Eisley canyons in modern graphical glory, it’s single-handedly thundered Star Wars back into my life, more than anything this decade.

At a time when Nintendo and Sony are neglecting their futuristic racers, it could also double as a thirst quencher amid the F-Zero and Wipeout drought.

On a broader level, the future pipeline of Star Wars video games is looking surprisingly strong. Turn-based tactics title Star Wars Zero Company, also set to be released later this year, might just fill the void for abandoned XCOM heads. Last year, a spiritual successor to Knights Of The Old Republic was announced too, from the director behind Mass Effect.

If you zoom out even further, we also know Respawn is cooking up a sequel to Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, which is one of the best Star Wars games ever made.

Other projects don’t feel quite as rock solid, such as Star Wars Eclipse from Heavy Rain makers Quantic Dream and the long-delayed remake of Knights Of The Old Republic, but when combined into the overall picture, it’s still a stacked line-up which holds more creative promise than the franchise’s cinematic arm.

Star Wars doesn’t feel like the only legacy IP being recharged via the video games. Harry Potter might as well have been cast into the cupboard under the stairs again if it weren’t for Hogwarts Legacy. Meanwhile, the output of Marvel Games – between Spider-Man 2, Midnight Suns, Marvel Rivals, and Marvel Cosmic Invasion – might not have all been financially lucrative, but they’ve generated more goodwill recently than the MCU.

In the case of Star Wars though, the lack of appetite for its Hollywood future (unless Ryan Gosling’s Starfighter in 2027 can turn things around) could see games playing a larger role in the overall trajectory of the franchise.

A Cal Kestis spin-off on Disney+? When a single episode of the animated anthology Star Wars: Visions can spore a dedicated spin-off series, it doesn’t feel like a ludicrous proposition. Especially as Obi-Wan Kenobi already ripped off one of the first game’s main settings.

When combined with the success of game adaptations in movies and TV, there’s a sense the medium’s cache is shifting under the eyes of executives who may previously have viewed games as a mere tool for brand extension and a quick cash-in.

With the gaming line-up Star Wars has right now, next to The Mandalorian And Grogu, I think there’s little question of who is truly running the show in 2026.

Email gamecentral@metro.co.uk, leave a comment below, follow us on Twitter.

To submit Inbox letters and Reader’s Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our Submit Stuff page here.

For more stories like this, check our Gaming page.

MORE: 20 upcoming video games I’m more interested in than GTA 6 – Reader’s Feature

MORE: Commodore 64 and ZX Spectrum are getting Nintendo style handhelds this year

MORE: Kingdom Come devs discuss next game and Lord Of The Rings rumours

The Press was on Knavesmire this morning as runners, walkers, and joggers took part in the event to raise money for Cancer Research UK.

More than 2,300 runners joined the races, which raised £160,000 for the charity.

Have a look through some of our favourite pictures of the day, and read our recap here.

Kimi Antonelli – 9/10

As Damon Hill put it on our 5 Live commentary, a stupendous weekend for the young Italian, who really put Mercedes team-mate George Russell in the shade. Three pole positions and three wins on the trot is worrying for his competitors.

Lando Norris – 9/10

Made great use of McLaren’s upgrade package and took a dominant sprint victory on the Saturday. Let down more by the wet weather not appearing on Sunday which might have seen him take the race win.

Oscar Piastri – 7/10

Solid enough from the Australian but very much adrift from McLaren team-mate Norris. Some nice battling with Russell in the race.

George Russell – 6/10

Overshadowed by his team-mate Antonelli this weekend. Russell couldn’t find the grip he needed and never really got into his rhythm.

Max Verstappen – 6/10

Huge steps made by Red Bull this weekend but an uncharacteristic mistake on the first lap sending him into a spin left him on the back foot. Verstappen was given a five-second penalty for crossing the white line at the pit exit, which underlines an underwhelming Sunday. But plenty of positives to take.

Lewis Hamilton – 5/10

Trailed Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc all weekend. A slow pit stop during the race didn’t help his cause, along with damage picked up from contact with Alpine’s Franco Colapinto.

Franco Colapinto – 8/10

His best weekend to date. Fast in every session. Outqualified Alpine team-mate Pierre Gasly and ran well in the race, with good wheel-to-wheel combat (maybe a tad close to Hamilton) and rewarded with crucial points.

Charles Leclerc – 6/10

Feels like a wasted potential for Charles in Miami. Was there or thereabouts all weekend but is just missing that extra piece. A lairy final lap with a mistake sending him into the wall undid all his good work in the race, and a 20-second post-race time penalty for leaving the track repeatedly and gaining an advantage loses him points.

Carlos Sainz – 7/10

Wasn’t happy with his Williams team after practice, as it looked like the team had fallen further behind in the midfield. So to salvage points on Sunday is a big win.

Alex Albon – 7/10

Looked more comfortable in the car and before the track limits violation got him pinged in sprint qualifying, looked ahead of team-mate Sainz. Quiet race but gets off the mark with a point.

Oliver Bearman – 6/10

Having had the measure of team-mate Esteban Ocon in the first three weekends, the Brit looked behind in the early part of Miami but soon found his way back ahead. Unfortunately, it appears Haas have not taken the steps forward that some of their midfield rivals have.

Gabriel Bortoleto – 5/10

Tough weekend for the Audi team overall. Kept his head down and rewarded the team’s hard work in fixing the reliability issues with a finish.

Gary Neville has identified the ‘horrible’ game that could cost Arsenal the Premier League title.

Arsenal, chasing a first league title since 2004, moved six points clear at the top of the table with an emphatic 3-0 win over Fulham on Saturday.

Viktor Gyokeres gave the Gunners an early lead at the Emirates Stadium and scored again on the stroke of half-time after Bukayo Saka had doubled Arsenal’s lead.

Mikel Arteta’s side failed to boost their goal difference any further in the second half but a comfortable victory still piled the pressure on title rivals Manchester City.

Man City have two games in hand to try and close the gap on title frontrunners Arsenal, the first a potentially tricky away game against Everton on Monday night.

Neville expects Pep Guardiola’s team to reduce Arsenal’s lead at the Hill Dickinson Stadium and says all eyes will then be on the Gunners and a London derby against West Ham at the weekend.

Arsenal are 17 places and a whopping 40 points above West Ham in the Premier League but the Hammers have improved in recent months to boost their survival hopes.

‘I watched Arsenal last night and disappointed is the wrong word but Mikel Arteta might be thinking that they could have scored a couple more and whether they might regret that,’ Neville said on his Sky Sports podcast.

‘But he’ll be happy with the win and he has to remind the players to take their chances and be clinical and ruthless. Those are the messages he will be giving I imagine.

‘They can’t sit back now in games, they need to keep going. I think Man City will beat Everton but it would be absolutely stunning if they were to drop points there, it would be stunning.

‘I don’t think it will happen. It’s a massive week because I think the game Arsenal are most likely to drop points in is West Ham away.

‘That’s the game they should fear most. It’s a horrible one because West Ham are fighting for their lives and need the points.’

Jamie Carragher, meanwhile, was impressed by Arsenal’s performance against Fulham and said it ‘certainly’ puts more pressure on Man City as they travel to Merseyside.

‘Arsenal were fantastic,’ Carragher said. ‘I think it’s the best they’ve looked for a while, maybe since they beat Tottenham in the north London derby.

‘They were helped a little bit by Fulham but they look energetic and it was big in terms of helping the goal difference as well.

‘They didn’t look fatigued or tired or nervous which they have of late but again, some of that was down to how poor Fulham were.

‘We’ll see how it plays out but it’s certainly put a little bit on Manchester City now who have a tough game against Everton.

‘I think Man City will win that but it might come down to goal difference now so just winning might not be enough.’

After facing West Ham, Arsenal’s final two Premier League fixtures are against already-relegated Burnley and Crystal Palace.

Manchester City, meanwhile, face Brentford, Crystal Palace, Bournemouth and Aston Villa as they seek a seventh Premier League title since 2018.

For more stories like this, check our sport page.

Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on
Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

MORE: Jamie Carragher names two favourites to win Premier League next season after Man Utd beat Liverpool

MORE: Gary Neville urges Manchester United to ‘trade’ £60m signing after Liverpool win

MORE: Arne Slot singles out Man Utd star for praise after Liverpool defeat

Councillor Keane Duncan has put his name forward as a candidate to lead the North Yorkshire Conservative Group — a position currently held by long-serving councillor, Carl Les.

A vote will be taken next Wednesday (May 6) when the group meets for its annual general meeting.

The leader of the Conservative Group will not automatically become leader of North Yorkshire Council.

But with the Conservative and Independent group currently holding 45 out of the 90 seats on the authority, it is likely a new group leader would also go on to lead the council following a vote at the next full council meeting.

If Cllr Les were to win the vote next week, he would automatically continue as leader.

Cllr Duncan, who represents the Norton division, became the youngest council leader in the country when he took up the top role at Ryedale District Council in 2019 aged 24.

The councillor, who is now 31, was elected to the new unitary North Yorkshire Council in 2022 and then stood for election to be the first mayor of York and North Yorkshire in 2024, coming second behind Labour candidate David Skaith.

He was an executive member for highways on North Yorkshire Council until he was removed by Cllr Les in June last year.

It is understood the relationship between the two councillors has been strained since the reshuffle.

Cllr Duncan told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): “I can confirm I have been nominated by colleagues for the role of leader of the Conservative group and I look forward to making my positive case at our AGM.”

Cllr Les, 76, who was awarded an OBE for his services to local government in 2023, has been leader of North Yorkshire Council since 2015.

It is understood this would be the first time he has faced a direct challenge to his position.

Cllr Les told the LDRS: “It is an internal matter for the Conservative group to elect the group leader.

“Presently, I have been elected by the council as leader until the end of this council. But the decision for the Conservative group on Wednesday is about who leads the Conservative group.

“It’s likely that the leader of the Conservative group would then be the leader of the council, but it’s not automatic.”

It has already been announced that the deputy leader of the Conservative group and council, Gareth Dadd, will also stand down at the AGM.

Executive members, Councillor Mark Crane and Councillor Richard Foster, have both put their names forward for the role.

Cllr Crane is a former leader of Selby District Council, while Cllr Foster led Craven District Council until local government reorganisation in 2023.