Devon County Council Lib Dems appoint new leader

Julian Brazil has been reappointed as the Liberal Democrat group leader

A new leader of the Liberal Democrats at Devon County Council has been appointed following the party's success in the local elections.

The Liberal Democrats took 27 of the 60 seats at Devon County Council on Friday, making them the largest party but without a full majority.

Julian Brazil has returned to the helm of the party, having been ousted from the position by Caroline Leaver in January 2024.

Mr Brazil said his party had things in common with the six members of the Green Party and two Independent councillors but wanted to work with councillors across the political spectrum with Reform as the main opposition party after gaining 18 seats.

Culture change

Brazil said: "I think the group decided they liked the fact I had so much experience as a county councillor, but also as leader of the South Hams, where I'd taken over a new administration."

The new leader said the culture at the county council needed to change and it had to be "more outward looking and work better with partners".

"We need to sort out children's services, it's been failing and we've been letting down some of the most vulnerable people in our communities - that's got to change," he said.

Filling in potholes in Devon was also a priority, he said.

Brazil said there was no appetite for a formal coalition and that his party would work with other groups.

"I'm hoping they will see this new way of working at county means that we're all going to try and work together and where they agree with us they're happy to support us and not just oppose for opposing's sake," he said.

Michael Fife Cook is the spokesman for Reform UK at Devon County Council

Reform UK has not yet chosen its group leader at Devon County Council but newly elected councillor Michael Fife Cook is acting as the party's spokesman.

He said he hoped to see councillors working together beyond party lines.

"I don't quite see it as opposition - I've already made it perfectly clear that we should be working together," he said.

"When we were electioneering, we were electioneering for our individual political parties and our own individual political views.

"We have now been elected - we are now part of a corporate body so the public would expect us to work together."

The new leader of county council will be voted on at its first meeting for all members on 22 May.