City councillor chosen as county leader by Reform

Reform UK councillors in Derbyshire have chosen Alan Graves to lead the county council.

He is one of the most experienced Reform UK politicians in the region, having been a councillor on Derby City Council since 1995.

The Reform group selected him as leader at a party meeting on Wednesday, but his position as council leader will only be confirmed at a full council meeting on 21 May.

Graves said his party would "get the brush out and make sure we do a proper sweep".

He said Reform UK was most keen to address potholes, special educational needs provision and council efficiency, in which he promised a "strong push".

As well as his Aston-on-Trent seat, which he won in May's local elections, Graves still represents Alvaston in Derby.

Asked whether he would resign his seat on the city council, he said there was "no need to".

He added: "I'll be busy but you give more work to a hard-working horse, don't you?"

Rob Reaney has been chosen as his deputy leader by the group.

Graves started his political career as a Labour councillor, before stints as an independent, UKIP, Brexit Party and finally Reform member.

He stood in Derby South at the general election, for Reform, coming second to Labour's Baggy Shanker.

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