Reform elects new leader after winning council

The winning Reform UK group at Suffolk County Council has elected Michael Hadwen as its new leader.

The appointment will mean Hadwen will become the new leader of the council on 21 May, when the authority has its annual general meeting (AGM).

Reform won 41 seats out of an available 70 after last Thursday's local elections, giving them a majority at the council, which had been Conservative-run for two decades.

Hadwen was elected group leader unopposed and said: "It is a huge honour to have been elected... and I am honoured to have the support of my colleagues."

Hadwen, who is from Felixstowe, was voted in to represent the Felixstowe Clifflands division. All county council seats were up for election.

Reform said Hadwen had "spent more than a decade working in politics and campaigning at every level of government across the country, including in senior national leadership roles".

His most recent role was working as a political advisor for the Reform leadership at Kent County Council.

Hadwen added: "I am particularly proud that our group moves forward united and focused on delivering the change residents voted for.

"Our priority now is to provide strong leadership, stand up for local communities and ensure Suffolk gets the fresh thinking and representation it deserves."

All councillors will be asked to elect the new leader at the AGM and, with Reform as the largest party, the act of selecting Hadwen will be a formality.

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