New independent group for county council announced

Ruth George (left), the former Labour MP for High Peak, and Amy Wheelton were elected as independent councillors in May's local elections

Two independent councillors have formed an independent group on Derbyshire County Council, with the leader decided by coin toss.

Ruth George, the former Labour MP for High Peak who was elected as an independent councillor for Whaley Bridge in May's local elections, will lead the group.

Amy Wheelton, a South Derbyshire District councillor who was elected to the Linton ward at the county council, will take up the position of deputy leader.

They were the only two councillors elected as independents in Derbyshire in the elections and will be the smallest grouping on the council, named the Derbyshire Independent Group.

They fall just behind Labour and the Liberal Democrats, which each have three councillors.

Forming the group would enable them to participate in more council structures and "better scrutinise how the council's decisions impact their areas and residents" they added.

After forming the group, they have been offered three seats on three committees.

In addition, they will also be entitled to submit questions to the council's cabinet members and participate in briefings from officers.

Both say they will maintain "the independent position on which they were elected", noting the two represent opposite ends of the county.

George said that whilst they have different backgrounds, "our skills and experience complement each other".

"As with any group of people we won't agree on everything but we will always agree to do our best for the areas and people we represent, and that will always be the priority."

Wheelton, who runs a farm near Walton-on-Trent, added: "Very oddly, I flipped the coin, Ruth called it right - tails - she's the leader, I'm the deputy leader and whip.

"But as far as we're concerned we're two people on the same level working together.

"I'm really hoping we can work with Reform...we all want the best for residents."

Wheelton also hopes to represent the views of farmers amid what she described as an "assault on farming" at government level.

George was barred from standing for the Labour Party in the local elections after allegations of antisemitism, which she denies.

Wheelton was a Conservative district councillor in South Derbyshire for the Seales ward until she was suspended from the party in 2020 for seeking election as an independent county councillor.

She has sat as an independent and been re-elected as an independent on the council since.

The county council will have its first full meeting since the local elections this week, where the new Reform UK leadership will be formally signed off.