Suffolk's Conservative leader steps down

The departing Conservative leader at Suffolk County Council has announced he will no longer lead his party's group on the local authority.

Matthew Hicks has been leader at the council and of the group since 2018.

He held on to his seat at the elections last week, but Reform UK won 41 out of the 70 available and will take over the administration.

Hicks said he would return to the "back benches" after the council annual general meeting on 21 May. Richard Rout has been elected the new group leader.

"I will return to the back benches and, from there, do all I can to continue to achieve the very best for Suffolk's residents," he said.

"I would like to thank the many councillors, staff, stakeholders, businesses and community groups I've worked with for their hard work and diligence on behalf of our great county over the last eight years."

The Conservatives, who had run the council for more than 20 years, went from having 44 councillors, to having nine.

Rout said: "I'm grateful for the faith my colleagues have placed in me and it is now our job, in opposition, to hold the Reform UK administration at Suffolk County Council to account."

Both Reform and the Green Party are still to announce who their group leaders will be.

The chosen councillor for the Greens will become leader of the opposition.

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