Election shocker as Reform takes power at council

FARAGE HAILS MAJOR VICTORY WITH 49 OF 62 SEATS IN STAFFS

- RICHARD GUTTRIDGE

REFORM UK was last night celebrating landmark results in elections across the Midlands as the party swept to power in a key county council and dominated seats elsewhere.

The party now controls Staffordshire County Council, claiming a total of 49 seats - way more than the 32 needed for a majority. It wrestled the authority from the Tories, who crumbled to just ten seats from its previous 53, with three for other parties.

Reform also emerged as the largest party on both Warwickshire and Worcestershire councils, which both fell to no overall control with deals to be done about who holds sway.

There was more pain for the Tories in Shropshire, where the Liberal Democrats took control with 38 seats. The Conservatives had been the largest party on the county council until yesterday.