Reform in opposition as council leader elected

Politicians have voted for a new leader of Cornwall Council.

Liberal Democrat councillor Leigh Frost was voted leader with coalition support from the Independent group for Cornwall with 53 votes for and 25 abstentions.

Frost said he wanted to "move forward and work together and do better" and he was "open to working across the chamber with all groups".

Reform UK won 28 seats in the local election, the largest number won by a party, but it fell short of the 44 seats needed for a majority and will now be a "robust opposition", local leader Robert Parsonage said.

Frost was nominated by Independent group leader councillor Adam Paynter and seconded by councillor Thalia Marrington.

In his acceptance speech Frost said his guiding principle would be the county motto "for one and all".

He said he wanted councillors to work together for Cornwall's residents.

Frost added that the council faced "tough times" but that he wanted it to focus on reducing its debt, providing affordable housing and improving roads and services.

He said: "It doesn't matter who you voted for, we want to hear your views, to represent you and work for you, for the good of one and all."

No party won a majority on the authority at the local elections meaning different groups need to work together in an administration.

Reform UK, which won the most seats, had withdrawn from the race after other parties said they would not support them.

The party said it had been rebuffed by the Conservatives, Labour and Liberal Democrat groups.

Independent group leader councillor Adam Paynter refuted this and said Reform "had no proposals at all" and the "only party who gave us a proposal were the Liberal Democrats".

The Liberal Democrats said they would seek to work with the Independent group to form a coalition.

Councillor Robert Parsonage, Reform UK group leader, admitted he was "disappointed" not to be able to reach an agreement and he claimed voters would be unhappy.

"It really shows disrespect to the people of Cornwall," he said.

"I think the voters will look back on this and feel disappointed that the other parties didn't engage with us to take Cornwall forward."

After the council leadership vote he added: "I think there's 47,000 angry voters out there now, where they have been denied moving things forward - and there will be more as they see what has happened today."

Before the meeting Frost said his party had felt it had to "step into the fray" after Reform's inability to form a coalition.

He explained: "Cornwall has some big decisions to make over the next four years with things like the next local plan and devolution.

"We need a strong and stable administration and we can't leave Cornwall rudderless.

"What we have lacked in the last four years is that collaborative approach and that's something that I would be really keen to do."

At the meeting on Tuesday councillor Rob Nolan was voted in as chairman on the council with 61 votes for and 22 abstentions.

Nolan said he had served in local politics for more than 20 years and "believes in openness and transparency with residents and members of the council".

He said he believed there should be more debate in the chamber to make it "a lively and invigorating place".

Councillor John Thomas was voted in as vice-chairman with 58 votes for and 24 abstentions.

He said it would be "a privilege to serve".

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