THE future of Mike Appleyard, Buckinghamshire County Council's cabinet member for schools, is in doubt.

Mr Appleyard and council leader David Shakespeare, who yesterday were both seeking re-election to the county council, disagree on how much responsibility Cllr Appleyard should have within the county education service.

He could be out of a job after the election unless he backs down on his demand for a wider remit in line with his old job as chairman of the education committee.

If a compromise cannot be reached, Mr Appleyard is prepared to stay in the cabinet. Margaret Dewar, seeking re-election in Beaconsfield, has been sounded out about moving from community services to schools, but does not want to go.

This presupposes that Mr Appleyard is re-elected as member for Wooburn, and that the Conservatives are returned with much the same majority as now.

If so, Mr Shakespeare, who is standing at Flackwell Heath, should be re-elected as leader by the Conservative group today.