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Reform in opposition as council leader elected

by Katherine
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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 said he wanted councillors to work together for the residents of Cornwall

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."

There were 25 abstentions in the vote for leader of Cornwall Council

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Reform UK, which won the most seats, had withdrawn from the race after other parties said they would not support them.

Shortly after his appointment on Tuesday Frost nominated Paynter as the council's deputy leader.

He also nominated a cabinet of eight members, of which four are Liberal Democrat and four Independent members.

These are councillors Tim Dwelly, Hilary Frank, Peter La Broy, Jim McKenna, Sarah Preece, Loic Rich, Dan Rogerson and Thalia Marrington.

Their portfolios were yet to be confirmed, he added.

Reform UK's Robert Parsonage has accused other groups of playing "party politics"

On Friday Reform UK 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 on Tuesday 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."

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