Councillor 'honoured' to lead local authority

Martin Griffiths, right, will have his position confirmed at a meeting on 22 May

A newly elected councillor said it was an "honour and a privilege" to be chosen to lead a local authority.

Reform UK members on North Northamptonshire Council selected Martin Griffiths for the top job after the party seized control from the Conservatives in the local elections.

Griffiths, who once led the now defunct Wellingborough Borough Council as a Conservative, will have his position confirmed on 22 May.

"The people of this county have given us a clear mandate for serious change and we fully intend to deliver that," he said.

Reform UK made history during the elections, winning 39 of the 66 seats up for grabs at North Northamptonshire Council.

The unitary authority had previously been run by the Tories, who saw their 50 councillors slashed to 13.

Griffiths left the Conservative Party in 2021 to sit as an independent in North Northamptonshire, before joining Reform in December.

He now represents the Croyland and Swanspool ward, and was selected to lead his new party after a group meeting.

Edward McDonald, councillor for Gretton and Weldon, was chosen as his deputy.

Reform UK won 677 of about 1,600 seats contested at last week's local elections.

Griffiths said: "We have an incredible team of councillors with professional experience from all walks of life.

"It's the most experienced team I've ever worked with in my time in local government, and I am excited by what we can deliver for local people."

Griffiths said what his party achieved was "incredible", after it also won West Northamptonshire Council.

"From a standing start we now have full control of both Northamptonshire councils," he added.