Worcestershire County Council deputy leader steps down
The deputy leader has resigned just three months into the role
Last updated 19th Aug 2025
The deputy leader of Worcestershire County Council has resigned just three months into the role.
David Taylor’s departure as deputy leader comes amid talk of a rift among the county’s ruling Reform party.
Cllr Taylor will remain a member of the cabinet, while Cllr Rob Wharton will fill in as deputy leader while the group decides on a permanent replacement.
Council leader Joanne Monk said: “I can confirm that Councillor David Taylor has made the decision to step down as deputy leader.
“David will continue to be a part of the leadership team in his role as cabinet member for One Worcestershire which covers local government reorganisation.
“A group meeting will be held to elect a new deputy leader. In the interim, Councillor Rob Wharton will be fulfilling the role of deputy leader alongside his cabinet position.”
Conservative group leader and former cabinet member Adam Kent said: “What we are witnessing is nothing short of chaos at the top of Worcestershire County Council.
“Reform promised strong leadership – instead, residents are being subjected to civil war in their ranks, resignations, and bitter infighting.
“At a time when Worcestershire faces the biggest decisions in a generation with local government reorganisation, the county is being run by a group who are more interested in fighting among themselves than delivering for local people.
“Serious questions must be asked about whether Cllr Monk herself is now clinging on by a thread.
“This is a crisis of leadership. Reform are proving every day that they are not capable of running the council. While they collapse in on themselves, vital debates about the future of our county are being undermined. The people of Worcestershire deserve better than this amateur hour.”
Cllr Taylor was elected as a county councillor in Redditch East for the first time in May and officially elected as deputy leader of the council at a meeting on May 22.
After that meeting he said he was “very proud” and vowed to tackle the county’s finances.
“We have to look at the previous administration, who blatantly failed, and failed Worcestershire,” he said. “So we’re going to take that on and start afresh – we’ve got a phenomenal cabinet set-up.”