Reform wins first seats on Devon County Council
BBCReform UK has taken seats for the first time on Devon County Council.
The counting has finished, with all the electoral divisions having been declared.
Reform has picked up 18 seats, Liberal Democrats 27, six for the Green Party, seven for the Conservative Party and two independents.
Donna Manson, chief executive of the council, told the audience at County Hall about 80% of those elected were new in the role.
In separate by-election results, Reform UK's Antony Payne was elected to Exeter City Council, having won in Mincinglake and Whipton from Labour.
Neil Stevens, who won Alphington and Cowick for Reform, said: "We're not just a Mickey Mouse party".
"We started from January with nothing... I've lived in Exeter my whole life and now I'm going to make a change.
"Reform is here... we're here to win and change things."
Michael Mitchell, who won Duryard and Pennsylvania for the Lib Dems, said: "We're delighted... it's a little ray of sunshine over Exeter today with the Lib Dems gaining their first seat in Exeter since the reorganisation.
"So far today we are gaining seats across the county, as people are aware Reform are doing exceptionally well in some areas, so it looks like at the end of the day - it'll be a confused result at County Hall."
Thomas Richardson, a 20-year-old Green Party candidate, gained a seat in St Sidwell's and St James.
He said: "It's a real showing to the hard work that we've put in here in Exeter.
"It's really encouraging to see that, where the Green's campaign, work and talk to residents, we are beating Reform where other people are turning to against Conservatives and Labour."
Analysis from Miles Davis: A sea change
This is a sea change at Devon County Council.
Before the count, the Conservatives held 39 of the 60 seats and had been in power for more than 15 years. Now they are left with seven seats.
People from Reform were jubilant after winning 18 seats and they will now be the main opposition party.
But who will be in charge?
The Liberal Democrats have the most seats with 27 - but that is four short of a majority.
Could they now turn to the Green Party, which won six seats, to form a coalition?
It promises to be an interesting time ahead, with about 80% of the elected councillors holding these positions for the first time.
Not only will they have to deal with the day-to-day problems of finding money to fix potholes and provide social care services, they will also play a key role in guiding the county into the future as all district councils, and Devon County Council, are abolished to make way for new unitary authorities being brought in over the next couple of years.
Phil Bialyk, Labour leader of Exeter City Council, said the results in Devon were "very disappointing".
He said: "I can't say I'm happy with it. The people in Exeter have given their verdict, I'm always going to respect what they say.
"The only way that we can deliver anything for hard-working people in or around Exeter is actually control those leaders of power, but, for now, someone else has their hands on them and we'll have to see what they do."
Conservative Andrew Leadbetter retained his seat in the Wearside and Topsham division.
He said: "It's not just the Conservative Party, they want something different and a new cause.
"I think we're seeing the end of local campaigning.
"This election was not won on local campaigning - it wasn't about cleaning, gardening or anything - it was on national issues."
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