'My family hasn't seen me for two weeks... this job comes first'

MICK Barton has got a lot on his plate. “I’m sure it'll slow down at some point", Nottinghamshire County Council's new Reform UK leader says.

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Having just been officially confirmed in his post, Councillor Barton has already had a taste of what he criticised as the “Punch and Judy" politics of the county council chamber. Aside from the theatrics of the meetings, Councillor Barton is finding his feet at Nottinghamshire's biggest council.

The new leader is responsible for an authority handling an annual budget of over £600 million and vital services relied on by thousands.

Councillor Barton is juggling that responsibility alongside his existing role as a Mansfield district councillor and his “day job”, running his Mansfield Carpets and Wood Floors business.

Asked how he had found the task so far, Councillor Barton said: “Extremely busy. I've not had a minute when I've been juggling my day job, obviously we've had meetings at night, like branch meetings, and we've got community meetings. I'm definitely enjoying it.