'We must work together for the East Midlands'

LABOUR'S East Midlands Mayor says she is not concerned by Reform's surge in the region as she warned new group leaders to 'put place before politics.

- By NIGEL SLATER

Claire Ward told an East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) board meeting in Derby that all members should put the region as the number one priority when it comes to decision making and not play party politics.

The meeting on Monday at Derby County's Pride Park Stadium saw the regional authority welcome new Reform board members to the table following dramatic local election results across the region.

Reform’s Alan Graves is now on the EMCCA board after being elected the new Derbyshire County Council leader and is joined by the county council's new deputy leader, Robert Reaney.

There was big change in Nottinghamshire too with the new county council leadership also sworn to the EMCCA board table.

Nottinghamshire County Council leader Mick Barton and its deputy leader, John Doddy, both of Reform UK, are now EMCCA board members.