Reform leader re-elected on hung council
BBCThe Reform UK leader of Leicestershire County Council has been re-elected to continue running the party's minority administration.
Dan Harrison was returned to the authority's top political post by 25 votes to 17 at the council's annual general meeting on Wednesday.
Reform is the largest party on the council after elections last year but does not have a majority in the council chamber.
Harrison's re-election as leader was opposed by Conservative, Green, Labour and Restore Britain councillors while 11 Liberal Democrat members abstained.
Craig Smith, the deputy leader of the Conservative opposition group, questioned Harrison's "suitability and ability" to be leader.
Smith told the meeting Harrison did not command respect and said Reform councillors had told him there was a "toxic culture" under Harrison's leadership and he urged other members of the Reform group to challenge him.
Reform councillors backed Harrison to continue as leader.
Andrew Hamilton-Gray, the Reform group's whip, said: "I've got a pretty good feel of the pulse of the entire group and I can categorically refute any claims that there is any division or instability within our group.
"We are all fully behind Dan Harrison.
"He is the best man for the job and the best leader of the county council and I fully support him in that role."
Melton East's Reform county councillor Andrew Innes said: "To change course now risks slowing the momentum we have built.
"To re-elect Dan Harrison is to reinforce that momentum, to deepen our impact and to ensure that Reform UK continues to deliver real, tangible benefits for the people we represent."
The council's Liberal Democrat group leader Michael Mullaney said Reform was the largest single party on the council and that it "wasn't the job" of other parties to pick the leader.
The Tories accused the Liberal Democrats of propping up Reform by doing a "back room deal" to support them.
Both Harrison and Mullaney denied there was any such a deal but said there were times when they agreed on issues and times they did not.
Harrison told the meeting Reform had stabilised the council's finances over the past year and identified savings while investing millions of pounds in social care, and highways projects.
He also confirmed a cabinet reshuffle after Wednesday's meeting.
New cabinet roles
- Leader - Dan Harrison
- Deputy leader and culture and heritage - Kevin Crook
- Children and family services - Charles Puglsey
- Adult social care - Michael Squires
- Environment, flooding and waste - Adam Tilbury
- Highways and transport – Andrew Hamilton-Gray
- Resources and finance – Harrison Fowler
- Growth, economic development and planning – John Bloxham
- Health – Paul Harrison
- Communities and community safety – Carl Abbott
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