Reform formally takes control in Derbyshire

The new Reform UK leader of Derbyshire County Council has been formally approved at a meeting at the council's headquarters.

Alan Graves was voted in by councillors as leader with a term of four years, having been elected by Reform's new cluster of Derbyshire councillors to lead the authority at a party meeting last week.

Sutton councillor Robert Reaney will serve as deputy.

Nine cabinet positions were also announced, the same figure as the previous Conservative cabinet.

Several cabinet roles have also been renamed and a new leadership role has been created for "Council Efficiency (DOGE)".

"DOGE" is a reference to the newly-created "Department of Government Efficiency" in Donald Trump's US administration, with a pledge to cut waste forming a central part of Reform's election campaign.

A role overseeing the council's net zero agenda has also been maintained, despite the decision to scrap the authority's climate change committee.

The new chairman of the council will be Reform councillor Nick Adams.

Adams said he was "deeply humbled" and "astonished" to be in the position.

He will also take up the role of civic chairman, though Adams said he did not intend to take allowances for both roles.

Speaking after the formal vote approving his leadership, Alan Graves encouraged "those to the left" to "join in and help us run this council".

"Never before has Derbyshire seen such wholesale changes to the political landscape," he said.

"As the first Reform leader of the council I'm rightly proud to hold that title.

"We will be focusing on the overall efficiency of the council, something I believe the previous administration took their eye off."

He said Reform councillors would not be "bogged down by the old political dogma".

"Not one of our councillors are career politicians and every single one has real life experience," he said.

He also said the union flag, the St George's flag and the county flag would be the only flags flown outside County Hall going forward, when asked whether the Ukrainian flag would be permitted.

The leader of the Derbyshire Conservatives Alex Dale, who are now the opposition group on the council having lost control at the local elections, congratulated Graves on his election.

The Conservatives "absolutely respect the outcome of the election", he said, adding: "Whatever party we're in it's in all our interests that we deliver for Derbyshire.

"Our group will offer very constructive opposition...we may be small but we are perfectly formed."

Also speaking on the new leader's elections, the leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Fordham said the past four years under the previous Conservative administration had been "disappointing", "hopeless" and "arrogant", accusing them of "dragging this authority into the realms of bankruptcy".

The leader of the Greens Giz Kensella also criticised the previous administration for "overseeing deep cuts" in areas like social care and special educational needs.

He also said he had "major" concerns about Reform's decision to scrap Derbyshire's climate change committee.

The new Reform leadership will also be appointed to a handful of leadership positions on the East Midlands County Combined Authority.

Reform UK won 42 seats at the local elections. 33 were needed for majority control of the council.

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