It's 'Punch and Judy politics' at first meeting with Reform in charge

IT was all surprisingly boring. Then it wasn’t.

- By OLIVER PRIDMORE

Reform UK’s first full meeting in charge of Nottinghamshire County Council began with the traditional ceremonies of a new chair and vice-chair of the council being elected.

There were many warm words and the atmosphere was one that would not have been out of place at any county council meeting I've covered in recent years.

Then the attacks began. Reform’s new group of councillors had an apparent desire for an efficient and business-like meeting, free from the political slanging matches I have become accustomed to when covering these occasions. They were successful in doing so, until Conservative councillors began standing up and launching tirades against the new flock.

Former deputy leader Bruce Laughton went through the seven Nolan principles of public life and accused Reform of breaking them all in the election campaign. He said Reform made false promises on election leaflets and tried and failed to get former Conservative councillors to join Reform.

John Doddy, deputy leader, responded by accusing Councillor Laughton of “sour grapes.” Johno Lee, the former Conservative vice-chair of the county council, attacked Dr John Doddy in particular.