County council opposition to Reform is formed

THE Green Party and a group of independent councillors have joined forces to become the official opposition to Reform UK on Lancashire County Council.

- BY PAUL FAULKNER

The 11-strong alliance has branded itself “Progressive Lancashire” and will be the second-largest grouping after Reform, which took control of County Hall following this month's local elections.

Made up of all seven independents and the four Greens who sit on the authority, the contingent will be led by former Labour group leader Azhar Ali - now an independent - with Green leader Gina Dowding as his deputy.

It means that the largest single opposition group on the county council - the Conservatives, who now have just eight members after having been in charge for the last eight years - will not be conferred with the official opposition status they would otherwise have secured.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) understands that there will be no whipping system within Progressive Lancashire - meaning the Greens and independents will be able to vote differently to each other.

In theory, that could lead to multiple stands of opinion emerging within the collective, as the Greens are not whipped even within their own group, while each independent is free to make their own decisions regardless of those reached by their fellow non-affiliated colleagues.

However, County Cllr Dowding says she believes that prospect is a remote one, because the councillors that have come together have so many “common values”.

The tie-up marks a return to the opposition leadership for County Cllr Ali - albeit now minus any political affiliation - after a hiatus of just over 12 months.