Reform UK won't lead Cornwall Council after all
The party's failed to form a working majority on the authority
Reform UK will not be leading Cornwall Council - as its leader in Cornwall blames other groups on the authority for playing “political games”.
Rob Parsonage has conceded that Reform has been unable to form a working majority of 44 seats.
Reform were voted in as the biggest political group at the council at the May 1st election with 28 seats.
However, it appears the likes of the Lib Dems, Labour and the Conservatives have refused to join forces with Reform to lead the unitary authority.
It now looks as though there will be a Lib Dem and Independent group alliance, who will work with minority political groups to form the administration.
It’s very likely that Liberal Democrat group leader Cllr Leigh Frost, who represents the Bodmin St Petroc’s division, will be elected leader of Cornwall Council at its first meeting of the new regime tomorrow (Tuesday May 20th).
Mr Parsonage has ruled out a Reform nominee, or accepting a nomination from others, for council leader at the meeting.
He said: “Today, here at County Hall / Lys Kernow, Reform UK must concede that it is unable to form a working majority of 44 seats, and on this basis I have informed the chief executive officer (Kate Kennally) that we will not be putting forward Reform UK, or accepting nominations from others, to form the administration.
“Despite our best efforts, the Liberal Democrats, Labour and some Independents have refused to work with us. Instead, they opted to play political football with the council chamber. Cornwall Council and Cornwall need stability to achieve economic investment and this old-style political posturing will not accomplish this.
“Cornwall’s voters gave us a clear mandate for change, electing us as the largest group from a standing start to fix the mess left by Liberal Democrat and Tory rule. But that can only be done by a strong administration through a coalition of all parties.
“Instead of listening to the people, other parties are choosing to play political games and are intentionally setting us up to fail. Under these circumstances, we sadly see no viable route for a Reform administration, with cross-party support, to operate in Lys Kernow. We remain firmly committed to being a strong voice in Lys Kernow, bringing new methods of challenge and improvement, holding the new administration to account and calling out this nonsense.”