Reform UK loses control of Worcestershire County Council in crunch vote
A coalition of the Greens, Lib Dems and independents will now form an alliance
Last updated 14th May 2026
A coalition of the Green Party, Liberal Democrats, and independents will now run Worcestershire County Council after a meeting was held earlier today (14 May).
A week on from the local elections, the move follows the suspension of Jo Monk.
Read more: Former leader of Worcestershire County Council suspended from party
The power-sharing alliance has seen Green councillor, Matt Jenkins, appointed as the new leader of the local authority.
The election of Cllr Jenkins comes via cross party support from the new Worcestershire independence group, The Conservatives, the Liberal Democrats and the Green and independent alliance - in a move which is said to be in support of Jo Monk, and against Reform councillor Alan Amos to lead the authority.
Cllr Monk retained her position as the formal leader of the county council ahead of the vote, and was a role Cllr Amos was anticipated to inherit.
It comes just 12 months since Reform UK took control under a minority administration.
Confirming the news on Facebook, the Redditch Labour Party said: "The move by Reform, led by Cllr Alan Amos, to retain control of Worcestershire County Council failed this morning when a rainbow alliance of Conservatives, Liberal Democrats, Greens and Independent Groups elected Cllr Matt Jenkins (Green) as Leader of the Council.
"Liberal Democrat Cllr Paul Bennett beat Reform's Cllr Roger Bennett for Chair of the Council, with Cllr Tony Miller (Conservative) outvoting Cllr Roger Bennett for Vice Chair."
Leader of the Worcestershire Conservatives group councillor Adam Kent had also been elected as the deputy leader but a Conservative party spokesperson confirmed this evening (14th May) that he had been suspended from the party pending an investigation.
In a statement the spokesperson said: " “The Chairman was very clear on a number of occasions that the Conservative Party was totally opposed to the proposed arrangement at Worcestershire County Council.Â
“The Conservative Group Leader did not make our opposition clear to his fellow Worcestershire councillors and has been suspended pending investigation. CCHQ has made clear to our Councillors that this arrangement must not go ahead."