Reform takes control of Derbyshire County Council

Reform UK has taken control of Derbyshire County Council from the Conservatives.

The party needed 33 of county's 64 seats to claim an overall majority, which it surpassed, winning 42 in total.

The Conservatives lost 33 seats, leaving them with 12, while Labour are down to three.

The Derbyshire leaders of both parties - Conservative Barry Lewis and Labour's Joan Dixon - lost their seats to Reform.

Stephen Reed, Derbyshire's Reform spokesman, said: "People keep saying it's a protest vote, I think there's no doubt people are protesting at how politics currently runs."

Reed, who won the Clay Cross and Tupton division with 1,353 votes, added: "There is an element that people want change so it's a message to other parties to say, 'look, we're not happy with the way things are going'."

Responding to the Conservatives' loss, outgoing group leader Lewis said: "It's something of a wipeout for us, I think - nationally and locally."

He put it down to difficulties over numerous years, "a fractured party" and the party's poor result after holding a general election in 2024.

"We need to rebuild trust with our residents and voters who've lost faith with us," he added.

Labour's Dixon said leading the Derbyshire group had been "a massive privilege", adding that it "fought tooth and nail" this election.

She said: "I will continue to be a champion for children with SEND [special educational needs and disabilities], as the stories of parents who have struggled to get the best outcomes for their children has left a profound impression on me.

"Thank you to every resident who has supported me over the years. It has been an honour to serve you and serve our beautiful county."

By Georgia Roberts, BBC Derby political reporter

Reform UK have now officially got a majority on Derbyshire County Council.

There's a feeling here that Reform have managed to mobilised people that don't normally turn out to vote in Derbyshire, and this has helped them along to victory - turnout was higher than expectations.

But Conservatives here also say they don't feel they could've fought against the strong sentiment for Reform and sympathy for their national policies.

Labour and the Conservatives are equally hurting, but for Labour this is a particular blow.

A year ago they were expecting to take this council, riding high off the back of recent victories in district and borough councils and a clean sweep of Labour MPs in the general election.

One Labour figure here tells me the party now need to do some serious soul searching as to how things have gone "so wrong, so rapidly".

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