Reform UK Lincolnshire county councillors have elected Sean Matthews, councillor for Tattershall Castle, as group leader following a meeting of councillors.
Mr Matthews retired from royalty protection in the Met Police seven years ago and lives in Lincolnshire alongside his family and grandchildren. He is committed to working tirelessly to make Lincolnshire County Council work better for local people.
He will be joined by Rob Gibson, councillor for Spalding East, as deputy leader.
Reform UK won 44 out of 70 seats on Lincolnshire County Council in the recent local election, securing an overall majority and entering into administration on the authority for the first time.
Group leader of Reform UK on Lincolnshire County Council, Cllr Sean Matthews, said:
“It’s an honour and a privilege to have been elected leader of the Reform UK group on Lincolnshire County Council.
“What we have achieved here is incredible. From a standing start we now have full control of the council and an excellent Greater Lincolnshire mayor in Andrea Jenkyns. The people of Lincolnshire have given us a clear mandate for serious change and we fully intend to deliver that.”
Work will continue on appointments to other senior positions such as members of the executive, the chairman and vice-chairman. These will be decided by the group over the coming days and then put forward to the council’s annual meeting on Friday 23 May for formal agreement.
Former council leader, Cllr Martin Hill, has stepped down as leader of the Conservative group, which is now the council’s main opposition. Cllr Richard Davies is their group's new leader. Cllr Trevor Young is the leader of the Liberal Democrat group; Cllr Karen Lee is the leader of the Labour group, and; Cllr Phil Dilks is the leader of the Independent group.