"Not a one off", says Reform UK councillor following Worcestershire County Council elections
The Reform UK party became the biggest one within the council, taking 27 of the 57 seats
A Reform UK Worcestershire county councillor says the recent county council election results were a huge success for the party.
All 57 council seats were up for election across the county's 53 divisions, with Reform UK becoming the biggest, taking 27 of the available seats.
The result did mean no overall majority had been declared for the 2025 Worcestershire County Council elections.
Alan Amos, who was formerly a member of the Conservative party but now represents Reform UK, was voted back in as councillor for Bedwardine.
Following the announcing of all the results, he said the result meant a lot to them as a party.
"It is not a one off," he said
"We've got a lot of work to do and we are going to act responsibly but reflect the views of the people who voted for us, we've got to have change, we need a better Worcestershire.
"This is the beginning of a new era of British politics, in Worcester, in Worcestershire and the whole country."
Conservatives lose majority control
In 2021, the Conservatives won 45 of the 57 seats available to keep control of the council, with the Liberal Democrats picking up four, Labour taking three and the Greens also having three seats.
Now, the Conservatives are the second biggest party after taking 12 seats, with former council leader Simon Geraghty notably losing his seat in Riverside to the Green party's Tor Pingree.
Speaking following the results Mr Geraghty said: "Obviously I'm disappointed.
"There's been a surge obviously in Worcestershire in support for the Reform UK party which has been mirrored across the country.
"We've been working hard for people across a very diverse part of Worcester city but also for the role I performed as leader of the county council for over nine years, shaping Worcestershire's future, taking children's services from inadequate to good, I'm disappointed but I congratulate Tor on her victory."
Greens and Liberal Democrats gain
Both the Green Party and the Liberal Democrats gained in the elections.
The Green Party picking up eight seats in total, with Tor Pingree delighted by the result as a whole and that she managed to take the seat of the former council leader.
"He was such a good sportsman the entire time, he very much congratulated me and has been very good," she said, when talking on how the former leader Mr Geraghty reacted.
"I'm absolutely elated, I'm so excited to get working and make some change here in Worcestershire."
Liberal Democrats gained an extra two seats compared to the four they had back in 2021.
Mel Allcott was re-elected in Claines: "I'm absolutely delighted the people voted for me and grateful they have put their faith in me for another term."
Long-standing Labour councillor retains seat
For Labour, the party ended up with two seats, one less than the last time an election was held.
Richard Udall has represented the party in St Johns for decades, he says he was happy to be voted back in.
He said: " It is a relief they continue to give their trust and faith in me and it shows I work hard for the people in St Johns and I try not to let people down.
"Following the result, I think there's a need for all of us as politicians to listen a little bit more, to understand a little bit more and to condemn a little less, we need listen to people's views and concerns."
The remaining two seats are held by Independents.