Procter yet to be offered MEP position

Coun John Procter has been put forward by the Conservatives to take Yorkshire's vacant European Parliament seat

THE CONSERVATIVES named Yorkshire's new MEP before he was formally offered the job, it has emerged.

Leeds City Council has confirmed that chief executive Tom Riordan, the returning officer for European elections in Yorkshire, has not asked John Procter to take up the vacancy created by former Conservative MEP Timothy Kirkhope entering the Lords.

The Conservatives issued a statement on October 25 saying Mr Procter, a Leeds councillor, had been “confirmed” as Yorkshire’s new MEP.

Mr Riordan has written to Olympic rower Alex Story, who was second to Lord Kirkhope on the Conservative candidates list for Yorkshire at the last European elections, asking him to fill the role.

However, the party has refused to endorse Mr Story’s candidacy and put forward Mr Procter, creating a stalemate and leaving one of Yorkshire’s six seats at the European Parliament empty.