Derbyshire County Council's Reform UK group has removed its deputy leader following a secret ballot of the party's councillors.
Rob Reaney, who represented Sutton and had held the deputy leadership since Reform took control of the council from the Conservatives in May 2025, failed to secure enough votes to retain the position.
Stephen Reed, councillor for Clay Cross and Tupton, will now serve as deputy leader. Reed had previously stood for the role at last year's AGM but lost out to Reaney. He is understood to have won this week's vote comfortably, with senior figures describing it as not an ‘aggressive challenge’, according to the BBC.
At the same meeting, council leader Alan Graves retained his position.
Reed had served as cabinet member for business services and as the party's media spokesperson during last year's local election campaign.
A wider cabinet reshuffle, to be decided by Graves, is expected to be formally approved at a full council meeting later this month.
