Reform UK has taken control of Kirklees Council – after Tories “got off the fence” and allowed a new leader to be elected at the third time of asking.
Reform UK leader Clr Sarah Wood was elected council leader and has vowed to “get on with the job.”
The council had been in limbo since the all-out elections on May 7 wiped out the previous minority Labour administration and left the council split like never before.
The Conservatives had blocked leadership bids by Clr Wood and Green group leader Clr Andrew Cooper, who was heading up a coalition including Kirklees Independents, the Liberal Democrats and Valley Independents.
With Reform and Clr Cooper’s coalition unwilling to collaborate, the Tories decided the deadlock couldn’t go on and they should follow previous convention and allow Reform, as the biggest party with 27 seats, to take control.
Tory leader Clr John Taylor said: “We have chosen to follow that convention and this was a decision taken reluctantly but in the best interests of the residents of Kirklees.
“This respects the election result. It restores democratic accountability. And it gives residents a council that can once again make decisions.
“Let me be clear. This was not a Conservative endorsement of Reform UK. We will be a strong opposition. We have the most councillors of any party that has more than two years’ experience and so are well placed to lead the challenge to the administration.
“We will hold them to account on every issue that matters to residents.”
Clr Taylor added: “The responsibility now sits squarely with Clr Sarah Wood.
“She has spoken repeatedly about her readiness to lead. She has told this council she will bring people together and get the basics done.
“Now she must prove it. Residents will judge her on results, and so will we.”
At the meeting Clr Taylor proposed a secret ballot with Clr Cooper making a final plea to wavering Conservatives even though he admitted: “I 100% get that your politics are not mine.”
He also accused Clr Wood of “bullying” tactics when she recorded a video urging Tories to “get off the fence” and telling supporters to bombard Conservatives with emails.
Clr Wood said people were losing patience with the deadlock and added: “What I am hearing across parties, across voters and non-voters is that they would like us to get on with the job.”
After all the political squabbling of the past few weeks, the meeting – held just ahead of England’s World Cup semi-final with Argentina – was over quickly, lasting just over an hour in total.
The meeting was adjourned while councillors left the chamber to vote in a secret ballot. They voted separately for the two candidates.
Clr Cooper lost 30-36 with one abstention before Clr Wood was elected 36-30, again with an abstention.
After the vote a report was presented to the meeting on the council’s Pay Policy Statement which revealed that chief executive Steve Mawson was paid a salary of £188,136.
Mirfield Tory councillor Martyn Bolt challenged the new Reform leadership over their election claims surrounding council finances when they highlighted how Mr Mawson earns more than the Prime Minister.
Clr Bolt said it was like comparing “apples and pears” as Mr Mawson is a salaried officer while the PM is an elected politician.
“Having used it for political gain, what’s going to happen now?” Clr Bolt asked. “Are they going to do anything or was this just a ruse to con the people of Kirklees to put them where they are now (the leadership)?”
Clr Wood wasn’t given chance to respond as the chair of the meeting, Mayor of Kirklees Clr Karen Allison, moved to the vote and pushed the meeting to a close at 6.43pm to allow councillors and officers to get away to watch the football.
