Tory group leader to step down after 20 years

The outgoing leader of Lincolnshire County Council has announced he is stepping down as head of the Conservative group at the authority.

Martin Hill, who has led the county council for the last 20 years, said it was time for "some fresh blood".

It comes after Reform UK took 44 of the 70 seats following last Thursday's local election, ahead of the Conservatives in second with 14 seats.

Hill, who retained his Folkingham Rural seat, claimed he would have been standing down "pretty soon" even if his party had retained control of the authority.

He added: "I've been 20 years as leader of the council - that's long enough I think, [and] I'm the wrong side of 70."

The Conservatives had controlled the authority for most of the last 50 years and started the night with 53 seats.

Commenting on the election result, Hill said people had voted on national issues, rather than what the council was actually responsible for.

"Immigration was a thing on the doorstep, and the feeling that the country is in a mess," he said.

"It's frustrating... [People would say] I think you guys have done a good job for us - but we are still voting for Reform."

Despite Reform UK's success, Hill said he had no intention of jumping ship, but added that he would support Reform in opposing plans for pylons across the county, along with "too many solar farms".

"Where it makes sense we will support - where it doesn't, we wont," he said.

Hill said he would also be on hand to offer help to the new leader of the Conservative group, if it was wanted.

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