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Reform loses control of county council

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CitrixNews Staff
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Reform loses control of county council
Reform loses control of county council12 minutes agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleTom Edwards,Hereford & Worcester political reporterandElliot Ball,West MidlandsBBC A packed council chamber at Worcestershire County Council - showing several rows of councillors sat on seats, all looking ahead.BBCReform UK has lost control after the Conservatives formed a coalition with the Green Party, Liberal Democrats and independents

Reform UK has lost control of Worcestershire County Council after being overthrown by a coalition.

Following a full council meeting on Thursday morning, the Conservatives have teamed up with the Green Party, Liberal Democrats and independents to form a power-sharing alliance.

Green Councillor Matt Jenkins has been made the new council leader, with Reform's minority administration being removed from office after 12 months in power.

It comes as Reform councillor Jo Monk, who was leader of the council, remains suspended from the party after losing a bitter internal leadership battle.

Reform had 24 of the 57 seats on the council, with the party running a minority administration after it came to power following last year's local elections.

The party opted to swap its own leader following weeks of infighting behind closed doors.

Monk was suspended and removed from her position as leader last month for "refusing to accept the democratic decision of the Reform UK group".

Her son and fellow Reform councillor Ashley Monk, has also been suspended for reportedly bringing the party into disrepute.

The ex-leader's time in office was marked by controversy, with council tax going up by 9% and the authority needing £59.9m in emergency government help to avoid effective bankruptcy.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage described the council as "bankrupt", but added: "We didn't make it bankrupt, we inherited it."

Farage also said he wished the party "hadn't bothered" to take minority control of the authority because of its financial problems.

The BBC has contacted Reform for comment.

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More on this story

'Chaos' at council: Could Reform split in county?

Reform suspends ousted county council leader

Councillor suspended over alleged antisemitic posts

Related internet links

Worcestershire County Council

Worcestershire County Council

Originally reported by BBC News