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Reform selects South Tyneside group leader

Evie LakeNorth East and Cumbria
Reform UK Paul Mackings smiling into the camera while sitting on a dark wood and red ornate chair. He is mostly bald with bits of white hair around the side of his head and grey stubble around his jaw. He is wearing a dark jumper with a black and white checked collar poking out underneath.Reform UK
Paul Mackings was voted in as Reform UK's group leader on South Tyneside Council

Reform UK has named Paul Mackings as its group leader on South Tyneside Council, after the party won three-quarters of the local authority's seats.

The Whiteleas councillor is joined by Hebburn North ward councillor Susan Sybenga, who was elected as deputy leader.

Local businessman Mackings, from Whitburn, said as leader his mission was to reduce debt, anti-social behaviour and "put faith back in the community".

Reform won 41 seats on the council on Thursday, with Labour, which previously ran the council for decades, winning only one.

The Green Party came in second to Reform with 10 councillors and there are also two Independents.

A crowd of Reform party members wearing rosettes. They are wearing suits and cheering.
Paul Mackings (right) was one of 41 newly elected Reform UK councillors in South Tyneside

Mackings said: "I am looking forward to working with the group to deliver what our constituents asked us to deliver whilst canvassing on the doorstep.

"Each resident of South Tyneside has the highest debt per capita of all the local authorities in the North East.

"It is my mission to guide our group of councillors to reduce the debt, antisocial behaviour, and put faith back in the community."

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