Reform UK selects group new leader on 'hung' council

Reform UK has selected a leader for its new group of councillors on Leicestershire County Council.

Dan Harrison has taken up the position following this month's election where the party wiped out the Tory majority at County Hall.

Harrison, a former Conservative county councillor who defected to Reform in February, will lead the party's 25 newly-elected members, it was announced on Monday.

Reform is the largest party on the authority but is three seats short of an overall majority.

Harrison said it was "an honour and a privilege" to be elected group leader.

The Tories are now the second largest party and hold 15 of the 55 seats and have lost control of the council after 24 years in power.

The authority remains hung with no party in overall control.

The Liberal Democrats have 11 councillors, Labour have two and there is a single Green and independent councillor, following the election on 3 May.

Reform has the option of either governing in a minority administration or trying to form a coalition with parties towards the opposite end of the political spectrum.

It is likely to become clear what the future political leadership of the council on Wednesday.

That is the date of the county council's annual general meeting - when all councillors meet to elect a chair and vice-chair and appoint councillors to committees.

The defeated Tories have already ruled out forming a coalition with Reform and said they would serve as a "strong opposition" to the larger party.

Harrison is division member for Ashby-de-la-Zouch and was first elected to the council as a Conservative in 2017.

said: "It's an honour and a privilege to have been elected leader of the Reform UK group on Leicestershire County Council.

"What we have achieved here is incredible.

"From a standing start we are now the largest party on the council.

"The people of Leicestershire have given this council a clear mandate for serious change."

Joseph Boam, the newly-elected Reform councillor for Whitwick, has been chosen as deputy leader of the Reform group.

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