Matt Jenkins leads Worcestershire County Council as Reform loses control

Matt Jenkins was made leader of worcestershire county council on Thursday morning after Conservatives, Green Party, Liberal Democrats and independents formed a power-sharing alliance. Reform UK lost control of the 57-seat council after 12 months in office.

The change came at a full council meeting, where the new arrangement ended Reform's minority administration. Reform had held 24 of the 57 seats after last year's local elections.

Adam Kent and the coalition

Conservative group leader Adam Kent backed the alliance after the coalition was announced at the meeting. He said: "On national policy there are many areas where we continue to disagree with the Greens - however, local government is not Westminster."

Kent also said: "Over the last year residents have suffered appallingly due to the instability of Reform in Worcestershire." He added: "At some point, responsible councillors have to stop standing on the side lines."

Jo Monk leaves Reform UK

Jo Monk, the former Reform councillor and former council leader, said at Thursday's meeting: "I'm quite shocked, it didn't go as I expected." She had been removed as leader last month after refusing to accept the democratic decision of the Reform UK group.

Monk also said: "I have been unfairly treated, mainly by my group. Head office I still have respect for, Nigel Farage and Richard Tice especially, who has been very kind and helpful to me." She added: "But apart from that, the group wouldn't listen to me and they're very naive. A lot of them are very young and they listened to just one person who wanted leadership."

She resigned from Reform UK on Thursday morning and became an independent councillor. Ashley Monk was also suspended for reportedly bringing the party into disrepute, adding to the internal split that preceded the loss of control at County Hall.

Worcestershire County Council control

The coalition now puts the Conservatives, Green Party, Liberal Democrats and independents in charge of the council. For residents, the immediate change is who sets the council's direction after a year of Reform running it as a minority administration.

The political split inside Reform UK has now ended with the party outside control and Monk sitting as an independent. The next test is whether the new alliance can hold together after taking office at Thursday morning's full council meeting.