THE appointment of Councillor Cathy Kent as Thurrock’s new Deputy Mayor appeared to catch even her off guard.

In a surprising move, Mrs Kent was voted in by her Labour and Ukip peers despite the Conservative group believing a previous agreement to install their candidate Councillor Tunde Ojetola was in place.

After winning a vote 28-19, Mrs Kent took ownership of her medallion and said: “This is unexpected so I'm not really prepared!”

The Gazette understand all three party leaders – Tory Rob Gledhill, Labour’s John Kent and Ukip’s Graham Snell – met recently agree to positions such as Mayor, Deputy Mayor and committee memberships, where it was agreed Mr Ojetola would run unopposed for the position as Deputy Mayor.

Now it appears that at the last minute Labour and Ukip changed their mind and nominated Mrs Kent.

Mr Gledhill said he was “fuming” with the opposition parties’ late change of heart.

Tory Councillor Mark Coxshall called it “disgraceful”.

Shortly after tonight’s Annual Council began and Mrs Kent was put forward, he said: “Twenty minutes ago there was no other nomination, so something has just happened here and it’s disgusting.”

Mr Ojetola and the Ukip group have had falling outs in the past, and with Ukip increasingly supporting Labour in the council chamber, Tory members suspect behind the scenes deals between the parties.

Other developments at Wednesday night’s meeting saw Councillor Sue Gray appointed as Mayor of the borough after serving as deputy to Councillor Steve Liddiard last term.

Labour’s Councillor John Kent, husband of the new Deputy Mayor, was also reappointed as leader of the council on a four-year term.