Reform group appoints Murray as new leader

Election follows protests at full council meeting

- Kerry Ashdown

MARTIN Murray has been elected the new leader of the controlling Reform UK group on Staffordshire County Council.

Councillor Murray, below, became acting leader of the authority following the departure of Ian Cooper in December. Chris Large was set to assume the permanent leadership but quit last month after just seven days heading the Reform group.

Now a new leader of the council - expected to be Councillor Murray - will be formally selected at an additional meeting of the full council on March 26.

Fellow cabinet member Hayley Coles has been appointed deputy group leader.

The council says day-to-day operations will continue as normal as it presses on 'delivering its new strategic direction'.