For the first time, Reform UK will have a formal presence within the County Councils Network (CCN), following appointments confirmed at the network’s Annual General Meeting.
Cllr Sean Matthews, leader of Lincolnshire County Council, has been named Reform UK group leader and vice chair of CCN, marking the party’s debut as a political group in the cross-party network.
The AGM also confirmed the full Management Committee following updates to the network’s political proportionality after local elections in May. The Conservative Group retained the chair position, with Cllr Matthew Hicks, leader of Suffolk County Council, taking over from Cllr Tim Oliver OBE.
Cllr Hicks paid tribute to his predecessor and highlighted the challenges facing county and rural authorities, including local government finance, adult social care, devolution, and special educational needs.
Commenting on the formation of the new Reform UK group, Cllr Matthews said he looked forward to ‘working on a cross-party basis to take this organisation from strength to strength.’
To learn more about Reform UK, check out: Reform UK: What Britain’s fastest rising party stands for and Reform UK’s ‘Doge’ witch-hunts will achieve little.
