Reform loses control of county council

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.

Discussing his new role, he said it was a "privilege" but also "daunting", because "we've got massive cuts, but we don't want to cut things that affect residents".

Jenkins said it would be "a tough nine months" leading up to February's budget.

"We need to sort out a lot of things, but by working together, hopefully, we can get things done without damaging vital services that residents value."

Asked about what the appointment meant to him personally, he said:"It's great for me, but it's not something that I've really been pushing for in my political career.

"I joined the Green Party because I was concerned about the environment and all those types of issues, and do well for my residents."

Conservative group leader Adam Kent said, of the new power-sharing arrangement: "On national policy there are many areas where we continue to disagree with the Greens - however, local government is not Westminster.

"Over the last year residents have suffered appallingly due to the instability of Reform in Worcestershire.

"At some point, responsible councillors have to stop standing on the side lines."

The change in administration comes as former Reform councillor Jo Monk, who was leader of the authority, was 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 in-fighting 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 was also been suspended for reportedly bringing the party into disrepute.

The BBC has contacted Reform for comment.

Speaking at Thursday's meeting, Monk said: "I'm quite shocked, it didn't go as I expected."

She added: "I have been unfairly treated, mainly by my group. Head office I still have respect for, Nigel Farage and Richard Tice especially, who has been very kind and helpful to me.

"But apart from that, the group wouldn't listen to me and they're very naive. A lot of them are very young and they listened to just one person who wanted leadership."

Monk, who officially resigned as leader of the council on Thursday morning before a vote could take place, also confirmed she had resigned from her party and was now an independent councillor.

Asked if she would work with the new administration, she said: "If the administration want me and my experience as leader then yes, I'll work with anybody, as long as it's for the public."

Monk'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 leader Nigel Farage previously 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.

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