Reform expects to run council without majority

The new leader of Reform UK on a county council said he expected his group to run the authority as a minority administration.

The party had aimed to take complete control in Norfolk but won 40 seats in local elections last week when it needed 43 to secure a majority.

David Bick – who is most likely to become leader of the council – said he doubted Reform would enter into a coalition with another party.

The Liberal Democrats, Greens and Conservatives have all either rejected the idea of working directly with Reform – or said a coalition was unlikely.

Bick was chosen at a meeting of the party's councillors on Tuesday night to become its leader.

Prior to the elections, he was one of two Reform members on the council, after winning his Thetford West seat last year.

His background is in financial PR and he has been involved in some major takeovers in the world of football, including the purchase of Newcastle United by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund.

Robin Hunter-Clarke, who defected from the Tories last year, has been selected as the group's deputy leader.

While Bick said Reform had "a very, very good result" in the election, he admitted he was "disappointed we didn't get the overall majority".

He said there had been "friendly conversations" with other parties but doubted there would be a coalition and the "most likely outcome" was that they would run as a minority administration.

Minority administrations are not uncommon in local authorities and they can still allow those in charge to make most decisions.

When the full council meets on 28 May, members will need to agree on who should be its leader.

If a majority agree to back Bick, the party will take power – and he will select his cabinet.

Members of the cabinet have a wide range of decision-making powers, with the full council only getting a vote on occasions such as setting a budget for the year.

Before the elections Bick said his priority was to tackle the near-£900m debt at the council but, speaking to the BBC, said it was too early to detail further plans.

"The old administration of the council doesn't finish until two weeks' time and after that we can really start to get to grips with things," he added.

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