Reform UK takes over leadership of county council

Councillor Joanne Monk confirmed her party would look to run the council as a minority administration

Reform UK has taken over the leadership of Worcestershire County Council for the first time, following its success in the local elections.

At a meeting on Thursday, party leader Joanne Monk was sworn in as council leader, and she went on to announce a new cabinet of Reform councillors.

The council has no overall majority, after Reform UK won 27 seats - two short of the 29 needed to secure it.

Meanwhile, opposition groups combined to pick newly elected Green councillor Louis Stephen as the council's chair, as well as secure a raft of other appointments.

This was the first Worcestershire election in which Reform UK won seats - 27 in total

Stephen was chosen with the support of votes from the Conservatives, Labour, Liberal Democrats and the council's two independents.

With the county in no overall control, the role's casting vote could be crucial over the coming years.

Casting vote

Monk confirmed her party would look to run the council as a minority administration.

The move will allow Reform to pass key decisions on a vote-by-vote basis, providing the party can secure at least two extra votes or abstentions from other councillors.

However, the new administration now faces the risk of the council's opposition parties working together to veto key decisions.

During the meeting, Conservative, Green, Liberal Democrat, Labour and independent councillors worked together to secure a number of scrutiny positions on council committees.

Councillor Louis Stephen said his was largely a ceremonial role

Monk said the council was in debt and the new administration would look at finances first, and plans to move to becoming a unitary authority in the next couple of years.

"We're going to be feeling our feet to start with. We've got to get our cabinet members settled in," she said.

She added that she hoped the minority administration would have the support of other councillors: "We are willing to talk to other people, but we're not going to commit to a coalition at this stage or in the future."

Meanwhile, Stephen said his was largely a ceremonial role but that his job was to ensure a good debate at the council and be fair and impartial to everyone there.

"Obviously, the council's in no overall control and it's really important in that situation that we can try to encourage a bit of cross-party working for the benefit of Worcestershire and its residents," he said.