Tory and Reform deal in place to run council

2 hours ago

Simon DedmanEssex political reporter, in Basildon

News image — Conservative Andy Barnes has become leader of Basildon Borough Council

BBC Andy Barnes smiling at the camera. He has a bald head and is wearing a blue tartan suit with a gold circular badge on his lapel. He is wearing a grey tie over a white shirt. Behind him is a union flag and coat of arms out of focus. — Conservative Andy Barnes has become leader of Basildon Borough Council

The Conservatives and Reform UK have done a deal to run Basildon Borough Council.

The Tories will lead the council and take all the cabinet positions, while Reform have the mayoralty and will chair several of the committees that oversee the Essex authority.

Conservative Andy Barnes, who became the council leader, said Reform "agreed to give the administration confidence, and they're going to play a huge part in scrutinising what we do".

Labour's deputy group leader, Adele Brown, said "nobody at this election voted to go back into the past" with the Tories running the council.

Andy Barnes talking in the council chamber, with people seated around him with laptops. — Andy Barnes received the backing of his party, Reform and some independent councillors to lead Basildon

This month's local elections left Labour and the Conservatives with 12 councillors each. Reform won 11 seats and there are seven independents.

No party has a majority. The Tories and Reform have a majority of one, but some independents voted in favour of their plans.

Independent Kerry Smith, who used to be UKIP's group leader on Basildon council a decade ago, warned the new Reform councillors not to make the same mistake he made with his former party's deal with the Conservatives.

Smith told them: "You must get half those seats in the cabinet."

Labour's Gavin Callaghan, who led the council until this month, accused Reform of putting the Conservatives back into power, despite Nigel Farage's party winning in most parts of the borough.

"Why so the leader of Reform UK could wear a necklace and frock?" Callaghan said, in reference to Sam Journet being elected mayor.

A top table desk with four men. In the centre is the mayor wearing a chain and red and yellow mayoral coat. — Reform's Sam Journet was elected mayor of Basildon on Thursday

Barnes told the BBC after the meeting that both Conservative and Reform party headquarters would not allow them to go into a coalition together and share cabinet positions.

The new council leader told the chamber: "Neither [party] will be able to act without consent. The cabinet will be held to account like never before.

"There's a good chance we will have to work with each other for years to come."

Reform councillor David Abrahall, added: "We will have an influence and we will make changes in how this council works.

"We will be watching them like a hawk."

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