Defeated Tory Brian Coleman is set to be ousted from Barnet Council’s cabinet in a move to shield the party from further backlash against the controversial politician, the Times Series understands.

The cabinet member for Environment lost his Barnet and Camden GLA seat to Labour rival Andrew Dismore by some 21,000 votes last week, a disastrous polling that looks to have left his political career in tatters.

Having been stripped of the chairmanship of the London Fire Authority, the Totteridge representative is now set to lose his influential seat on Barnet’s cabinet under proposals from group leader Richard Cornelius.

Cllr Coleman will be appointed chairman of the budget and performance overview and scrutiny committee in a straight swap with Golders Green councillor Dean Cohen, who will take over the environment portfolio.

The proposals, which were sent round to Conservative group members before their party meeting at Hendon town hall tonight, will go ahead unless a two thirds majority opposes the move.

A party source told the Times Series: “I would be shocked if this was opposed – it hasn’t happened in eight years. There is no inkling whatsoever that anyone is looking to oppose this.”

The stripping of his cabinet role means the once £120,000-a-year politician will be left with an expenses allowance of £10,000 to £14,000.

His appointment as chairman of the budget committee may also shock some given the Tory politician's record on claiming controversial expenses.

In July 2007 he was criticised by the then London mayor Ken Livingstone for claiming £10,000 in taxi fares across one year, including a £417 ride from his Finchley home to a GLA meeting where the driver kept the meter running.

More recently he racked up a £1,000 lunch bill for himself and his Tory colleagues at the London Fire Brigade Museum which he threatened to close to save money.

Mr Coleman said he did not want to comment when contacted by the Times Series.