"Expect big changes in the way Staffordshire County Council is run" says Nigel Farage

Staffordshire County Council under the Conservatives was "very woke", Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has said, as he celebrated his party taking control.

Reform UK won 49 seats in Staffordshire ending a 16 year run under the Conservatives, who were left with 10 councillors.

Speaking to our Chief Reporter Adam Smith at Staffordshire County Showground on Friday, Mr Farage said: "It's phenomenal. Not within my wildest dreams did I think we could become the party in power, so big challenge but big opportunity to."

He also said: "I have been perfectly clear about the excesses of expenditure, about the different areas that this very woke county council under the Conservatives have been involved in.

"County councils are there to perform basic functions for taxpayers. We want to slim down the size of local government and re-prioritise it on what its job really is.

"And you will judge us, quite rightly, on how we do."

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said the results of the local and mayoral elections represents "seismic" change in British politics.

He said: "I have been doing this game for about 30 years and in many ways what happened last night is without a doubt the most significant day in my political career."

As Reform councillors proposed a toast to the party leader, Mr Farage was offered someone's half-finished glass of Champagne, which he finished.

He joked: "Having not been to bed yet, that does taste rather good."

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has given newly-elected councillors from his party ideas to focus on as they take control of Staffordshire County Council.

He said: "Why don't we say no to the massive wind farm proposed at Staffordshire Moorlands?

"Why don't we say no to the huge 120 football pitch solar farm proposed at Cheadle?

"And we must say no to spending £18,000 on giving asylum seekers driving lessons."

He added: "I wish you all the luck in the world - it wont be easy, it will be a learning curve, but it is an incredible opportunity."

The next target for Reform UK will be the Welsh and Scottish parliamentary elections, leader Nigel Farage has said, as he celebrated the party taking control of Staffordshire County Council.

He said: "I honestly believe, we have cleared this hurdle, next year we will go for the Welsh and Scottish parliamentary elections, and I believe we can and we will win that next general election."

A staff shake-up on the horizon

Mr Farage gave a warning to those working in certain policy areas at Staffordshire County Council.

He said: "Maybe a bit of a warning if you do work for Staffordshire County Council and you are involved in climate change policy, or involved with DEI, or anything like that.

"It may be time to go and look for a different job because we want county councils to do what they are there to do.

"They are not there to fight climate change, they are not there to waste money the way they have been."

Nigel Farage says he believes Reform UK can win the next general election after witnessing "historic" local election gains for the party.

Hear all the latest news from across the UK on the hour, every hour, on Greatest Hits Radio on DAB, smartspeaker, at greatesthitsradio.co.uk, and on the Rayo app.